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| Life hasn't been real good lately. The election outcome. A lot of personal stuff. A whole lot of stress and worry. So, here's what I do. When the going gets tough, the tough get going...as is said... Sometimes I just need to get away and take a drive along the beautiful California coast. |
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| I need to breathe. |
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| More often, I try to cram as much ART into my life as humanly possible. Went to to see the Frank Stella show at the de Young Museum here in San Francisco. He has been prolific as an artist for over fifty years. Walking through room after room of amazing art is very healing. |
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| Danny Lyon Photography Show Being an photographer, I love a good photo show and this one was terrific. |
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| Besides the "straight' photos, I loved the collages Lyon made using photos and paper ephemera. Right up my alley. |
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| My favorite part of the show? A giant bulletin board of mail he received -- who knew? |
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| He had mail from all over the world.....lots of cool stamps.... |
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| I have followed his artwork for years but never saw his mail before. |
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| Aside from seeing art, I love to surround myself with art materials.... Happily I was signed up for a fantastic workshop given by my pal, Monica Lee, the Artful Recrafter. How to Make a Tyvek Toolkit |
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| Monica brought loads of mixed media art supplies to play with and we learned how to make Tyvek zippered pouches. custom sized to hold art supplies... I never had put in a zipper in my entire life! (Ok, my seams are crooked and I am kind of scared of Monica's sewing machine but I sure did have fun!). |
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| Monica's samples |
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| When I'm not out looking at the ocean or at art or in a workshop, I might be found looking at postage stamps......a whole composition book full.... |
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| Or, maybe hanging out in the studio with these guys.... When I feel this bad, I definitely need to surround myself with as much art as I can....and as many friends as I can.....I like company when I'm miserable. Art does saves lives. What are you all doing to feel better these days? I know a lot of my friends are suffering too. What works? I am baking and making things and seeing friends and praying for things to get better. Anyone want to come over and make things with me? I have cookies. SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL |
I would much rather do what you do to relieve stress, because art is fun, art museums are fun, driving is fun, scenery is fun. Instead, I insisted my friend Sally and I visit the zoo to get her out of her doldrums. She has been crying off and on ever since the election results were posted.
ReplyDeleteI really DO want to come and play with you. I want to know where you got that tyvek with the red and blue borders. I've never seen it before. And I want to share cookies and coffee and talk about ramifications that many people may not have considered.
And talk about why we still have that insane electoral college vote rather than total votes. Seems my vote wouldn't/didn't count for much anyway.
Hope you are having a better day now.
Elizabeth - the red & blue tyvek are mailers from the USPO -- you should see bunches of them at your PO or reuse ones you receive.
DeleteVery nice of you to take your friend Sally to the zoo to cheer her up. I may not cheer up for four long years but art does help.
Thanks for yur comment and good luck to all of us.
I am doing many of the same things you are - spending time outside in my garden or walking, getting together with friends, baking, working in my studio. Your invitation to come over and play and have cookies is one I wish I could take advantage of. Since that isn't possible, I will continue to enjoy your blog, make art and send out good mail.
ReplyDeleteThank you, cjsrq -- we are of like minds. Enjoy your friends and studio time and take care.
DeleteYup, I can relate to this post. I know what you mean about life. That art exhibit and class would have cheered me up a lot. Loving all the stamps. I love how every stamp is a mini piece of art in itself. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Erika - so glad you enjoyed the post. I agree, stamps are tiny works of art and so much fun to sift through. Take care.
DeleteArt does have an amazing ability to renew.
ReplyDeleteI'm making sure I connect with friends. Despondency is not the answer - future thoughtful, respectful, democratic action will be.
Agreed! (But I haven't shaken off the depression yet -- I'm trying....plus there's my personal life....). We have a lot of work to do for sure. And art definitely helps.
DeleteOh, and lots of Sci-fi films and books - I think my mind is drawn to the far future rather than the near future.
ReplyDeleteSci-fi sounds good -- and the Film Noir Festival comes to SF for two weeks in January.....
DeleteHi, sorry to hear you're having a rough go lately. Hasn't been a great year for me either so I can relate. Trying not to think about being Trumped...
ReplyDeleteI need to plan a visit in January maybe cause you're right about being around friends. It's good for what ails you.
Love that bulletin board of mail. Must go try to make tyvec pouches. Take care.
Leslie -- yes, being around friends does help and see you in January! You can definitely make the pouches because you can actually sew (unlike me). They are really wonderful and I'd be happy to take one off your hands if you make extras. Some things never change. Do something fun today. We need cheering up. Thanks for you comment.
DeleteI'm sorry you are having a hard time. There must be something in the air! I like to remember that it's the hard times that makes the good times so good (hope that makes sense!) At least, that is what I tell myself. I find that I make more art, spend time in my art journal, look at my supplies, and try to learn new things when I'm feeling down. Oh, and I take a few naps and try some new beer (but not too much of that, LOL). I'm trying my hand at making sewn journals. My first one was poop, but I learned a lot and am using it for myself as a test, and the second one I finished a few days ago is so awesome that I plan to give it away. Hmm, maybe I've found someone who needs it more than my sister-in-law... :)
ReplyDeleteHi Dawn! Thanks for the kind words. Kindness helps. And I see you have some productive ways to deal with the hard times.
DeleteI have tried to make a sewn journal too and mine was a wreck.... how did you learn to do it? Did you teach yourself? I have a friend who makes amazing ones but she lives a bit too far to come over and show me how. I'd like to see what you made. Have you posted any photos of it?
Pamela, I followed directions from Ephemera's Vintage Garden Youtube channel for the three-hole pamphlet stitch. I also viewed a 5-hole pamphlet stitch video from Diana Trout, and wrote down a picture as I went through her video. I'm working on my third journal and like the five-hole pamphlet stitch better as it holds up better for when I make mistakes. Having good quality waxed linen thread is important. I order a kit from the Vintage Paper Co. in the UK; it came to me incredibly quickly and I like the quality of the materials. It helps! I never post pictures of anything, sorry!
Deletethank you, Dawn!
Deleteglad you took time for yourself and took a breathe .hope it made you relaxed and recomposed your energy.
ReplyDeletefirst pic is so beautiful and fascinating .
museum looks great and amazing
thanks, baili -- that drive along the coast is very beautiful and the fog makes things soft and mysterious......thanks for your good wishes and your comment.
DeleteI started reading a book of poetry, and I haven't read poetry in over a year. I agree, art does help. It reminds you about what you live and work for, a breath of fresh air.
ReplyDeleteOh yes..poetry is lovely too.....I get a poem delivered every day to my email and I love reading them....thanks for your comment...
DeleteIt's definitely time to self-soothe, by any means that work for each and everyone of us. And we do know what it good for us, what makes us feel better. I hope you are feeling a little better after all this gorgeous art. Oh I love the postage stamp book! There's something about gluing them in a composition book rather than a classic stamp book that gives it so much more! Nice post...
ReplyDeleteHello Marie! Self-soothe is right!!! I may have to start on martinis soon....I thought the stamp book was charming too....Don't you wonder who did that?
DeleteReading poetry, solving difficult Sudoku, and creating art are all good healing activities. Next time I'm in San Francisco I'll come over for a cookie. ~Jack @ Cascadia Artpost
ReplyDeleteHey Jack -- you can absolutely have a cookie next time you visit San Francisco! And I agree with all your stress-redusing ideas.
DeleteHi Pamela! Well, I think eating ice cream straight out of the carton does the trick most of the time. The key is not going through the trouble of scooping it into a bowl...and not eating too much, as not to feel too guilty later on. :-) I think breathing in the smell of art supplies will soothe the soul, too. I try to remember that wildflowers still grow in the valleys... Love, love all of the photos! Thank you for sharing with us, as always.
ReplyDeleteMichele - hummmm ice cream. I may have to try that..... I am so pleased you liked the photos. I try to keep things interesting. Today I spent an hour at the library looking at art books and that was nice too.....
DeleteBeautiful coastline and beautiful art - hope you are feeling better! Very cool workshop - those pouches look fun to make! Thanks again for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michele -- you would have enjoyed the workshop. Mail went out to you today -- finally!!
DeleteBeauty, art and inspiration are such good antidotes to external stress, and natural views are the best, love to see the coastline (I'm about 1 hour from the ocean).
ReplyDeleteI'm baking today, and every evening been knit and crocheting to distract me from the politics and poison I keep hearing in the news. Your zippered pouch must be great, now that you've made one, you can do more! I know I have to make a cloth one to hold my yarn projects... as soon as I clear my desk, that's the next project I have planned.
Hi tamdoll! Yes, we do think along the same lines. I have been baking too and trying to give away the cookies so I don't eat too many.....but it is relaxing and the kitchen smells so wonderful. Before I can make any more pouches I have to get my never-used sewing machine to work (it seems to be frozen ) and learn how to thread it.....I am not Monica's most stellar student but I sure had fun.
DeleteHa! I gave away the rolls I baked today, and it was so much fun, I may have to start baking again.
DeleteGood luck with the sewing machine - the internet is so great for help with that with most instruction manuals available at your fingertips.
"Fun" is so important!
Thanks tamdoll - and I agree - you've got to have fun in your life! I saw your rolls on IG and they looked wonderful. Wish you were my neighbor!
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