Now one holiday has passed and it is time to gear up for the next! I love the holiday season. Thanksgiving was day before yesterday. Since my Mom is 92, this is the second year we have not all gathered at her house like we have done my whole life. Each of my two sisters and my brother had their nuclear families to their house. Previously most of them would have had two meals to try to attend, now they only have one and I am sure part of that is a relief as there is not so much rushing and planning around each event. Last year my Mom and I had our own. This year my brother invited us both to join his family at his house Thanksgiving night and we both accepted. We both cooked a few items to take. At the last minute, although my Mother had created what she said she would bring, she was having some issues and not feeling so great, so she backed out at the last minute. One of my nieces was at her in-laws out Mom's way, so they stopped on the way into town and picked up the food Mom had prepared. I still went with my desserts and food offerings and I had a good time. Even though another family member or two on my Sis-In-Laws side had been invited too, they had other invites, so I was the only extra. I told my now grown-with-families nieces and nephews I was the Thanksgiving Party Crasher! LOL We had a good time though, good food and plenty of it, a good array of desserts and great family visit with lots of laughter..... just like it should be.
Of course you know that since I have been here last, I have still been creating my funky little art. This one is another of my classic floating collages, made with some of my happily painted papers. I love the bold colors and the arrangement is pleasing to my eyes.
Last weekend I made a visit to the little Good Will store in my little city. I had not been there in a couple of months. I looked at the small book section, even though I shouldn't, because I have gathered some good collage fodder books from the thrift stores this year and I haven't really focused on using them in my collages. Sure I have used a few bits in some, just not enough yet to need to gather more books in, but alas, if I think they might have a lot of usable stuff in them, it is hard to leave them behind. I also found a book or two I am interested in reading, which wasn't my intent, but I am enjoying one of them a lot.
I also found a few other items, one of which was an aluminum bat. No, I don't want to play ball, I bought it as a weapon. LOLOLOLOLOL I've pictured one sitting behind the front door or in my bedroom. I'm not sure what put that idea in my head. If I know I am in peril I have other choices, but I liked the idea of a bat too. All I can say is if you are up to no good and considering coming in my house, this old lady may give you a few surprise lumps before you can carry out your crime.
I'm thinkin I want a taser next. I have seen a thing or two where some folks got flame throwers because they are not illegal or need to be registered. So far, I have only seen them jump out their front door and use it while chasing some miscreant away who tried to get in their house or steal their packages.... ha ha.... but I could just see me catching my own house on fire, so for now I think I'll pass on wanting one of those.
The other night I made this piece. I had been watching some vids where folks were exploring some caves and the terrain they were in was rocky and brushy with multiple colored layers, so I decided to do some layers. When done horizontally, most times they do end up looking like some sort of landscape. I got to use multiple pieces of my fun painted papers in this one.
I also got more stuff from the Good Will, a very small battery operated vacuum for keyboards and little places. Wasn't sure I would really use it much, but on things such as that, it's only a couple of dollars to try it and I know I can donate it back if I don't find it useful. I also found two Corning Ware bowls, medium sized, white with tabs, tabs meaning handles. I totally love these bowls for using in the microwave. I had two already I had bought off of Ebay a couple of years ago and I always use them first, so I was delighted to find two more. It's funny when something like a particular kind of bowl, plain as it is, feels like a treasure. Those were my favorite find that day.
Last night after I had cut down the water jugs and the cardboard to bag up for recycle, I came across some leaves I brought home with me from Mom's last weekend. I got them to see if I could make paint impressions of them on some art, but had lost them in the shuffle and now here they were. Instead of printing with this one, I painted a small card and then glued the leaf on it. It was not too crunchy yet, but I still couldn't make it lay flat and part of it is not firmly glued down, so one day parts of it could crumble. To avoid that as long as possible, if I were to try to keep it, it would probably do best in a shadow box frame, but after thinking on it for a few minutes and with the nature of my art and collage, if some bits of it were missing, I don't think it would really matter as far as the art goes. I did paint the whole card behind it, so it should not be a big deal. Either way, I added it to a few more papers. I like the fall colors and the design and I love the leaf in it.
This one I made a few weeks ago. I could not remember if I had included it before. ha ha...well.... anyway, this is the orientation that I created it in.... but....
..... when I was taking it's photo, my camera turned it sideways for some unknown reason and I thought it looked kind of like a blue box, opened with maybe some red tissue paper and who-knows-what tumbling up out of the box. Is that a cupcake with a candle on it? Maybe it's a birthday present!
So of course I had to turn it upside down to see what it would do this way too.
That's the way of true abstracts, they do fine any way you turn them and YOU get to decide which way they flow best for you.
Fun papers in this one too.
Ok! It's time to go read a chapter in my newest book, eat some yogurt and write in my journal a bit before I see if I will pull out some more Christmas decor. I should.... but we'll see. I wanted to do my outdoor lights yesterday, but it was too cold for me. We are in a cold snap for a day or two and not only was it in the low forties as a high for yesterday, it was also windy and I just couldn't make myself deal with it to have what I really wanted. Soon though..... soon I will get them up, but maybe not today...Brrrrrrrrr
