Exploration

The book is in the back seat of my car...I keep forgetting to stop at the post office!

I'll pass it on to Sylvia ASAP.

I hope everyone is doing well. I can't wait to see more books. I almost hate passing them on because I love to look at everyone's creations and let my imagination fly.

It's funny how the themes always seem to be what I need to reflect on at that time.

Exploration - explore new things

I was a mess. I started to panic that my style(s) throughout this book do not match. Being an artist means having a style. And in this book, each of my entries are so varied. But after pacing my dining room for about 30 minutes trying to figure it all out in my head, I decided that being an artist is about making art. It does not mean that every piece should always flow. Sometimes the messy, inconsistencies that occur along the way are good. And that is what this book is about. It is not an art book that is meant to have the same flavor. It is a book of exploration. So I just decided to go with it, and let new things fall onto the page.

Spirited Away!

This is my contribution to Leeza's Spirit book. I have to say that I was so nervous about working directly on the pages without a plan that I just let the book sit and sit for weeks. I didn't want to ruin it! When I finally sat down to do the pages, I centered myself by remembering how energizing it was to work spontaneously on the mixed media pieces I did for the Inspire Me Thursday's Senseless Art and Five Senses challenges. So I just let go of any expectations and went the flow of my impulses and energy.

I gessoed the pages and stamped in texture, chose colors that appealed to my mood and rubbed them in with my fingers, sponged them around, removed areas of color with alcohol, collaged the horse (from a print of this study), scribbled with water soluble pastels...adding and subtracting until I felt like I was finished. Although I made a huge mess all over my work table, I thoroughly enjoyed the process... and I even like the product.

Engines.. late but finished!

So sorry if I'm the holder-upper! I'm sending the Engines book to Sylvia today.
I don't know how it developed because it just came out, but I think it's ok.
I hope everyone is doing well. :)

Dandelion Cookies

This is the recipe I mentioned in my comment on Beth's post below. I got it from Whimspiration who says they're delicious.

Simple Dandelion Flower Cookies

Ingredients:
4 cups vegetable oil
4 cups honey
8 eggs
4 tsp. vanilla extract
4 cups unbleached flour
4 cups dry oatmeal
2 cups dandelion flowers.

1) Preheat the oven to 375.
2) Mix the oil and honey and then beat in the eggs and vanilla.
3) Remove the yellow flower parts from the green parts (compost the green parts).
4) Stir in the flour, oatmeal, and dandelion flowers.
5) Drop the batter by tablespoonfuls onto oiled cookie sheets.
6) Bake for 10-15 minutes.
7) Let cool

This recipe is easily modifiable to make more or less cookies, and to add different flavors. Add cinnamon for a dash of spice, a bit of ginger for a kick, or even a bit of citrus zest for a sunnier flavor.

When removing the yellow parts from the green, we put the yellows in a jar of water to prevent wilting while we get them all separated. Strain & drain the yellow bits, and save the water for making tea to get the most possible benefit from the flowers.

Observations - The Lesson of the Dandelion

My yard is full of dandelions. Lots of them. Despite my relentless efforts to rid the grass of these through organic anti-weed fertilizers, and painstakingly pulling them out by the roots one by one... they keep coming back. And multiplying. And now they've turned into their white puffy alter-egos and are taunting me even more as I cringe at the fact that each little seed that is lifted into the air is destined to plant itself and grow another.

Finally, I've decided to accept the fact that they share the yard with me, and let them be. Me and the dandies in harmony together.

Dandelions have always fascinated me. I remember playing in the school yard during the cherished recess break, popping the yellow tops off and using it's pigment to draw on the sidewalk. By the end of the hour, the cement was covered with little yellow hearts and stars. Some of the other kids would taunt each other with sayings of "Mama had a baby and it's head popped off" as they would flick the yellow dandelion head off into the air with their thumb. I never partaked in that. I just liked to draw with them, and stain my fingers with the yellow weed. Then one day I'd go outside and the yellow was gone and replaced by white poofs. My friends and I would make wishes and blow the little seeds into the air. They'd dance in the sky until they floated into the grass and disappeared.

This little weed made me think. Dandelions, like other weeds, flowers, trees and any living growing thing, change. They grow and transform themselves. Just like people. But underneath, it really is all the same. It is just in the appearance.

I've enjoyed the past few months, looking out my windows and seeing everything change. The tree that stands outside turned from a brown skeleton into being thriving & lush green. I no longer have the same view out my window, as I no longer see the house across the street, now I see leaf covered branches.

The dandelions have taught me to relax and not try to make everything perfect. To sit back and enjoy things, instead of seeing them as a burden. Everything the last few weeks has been focused around observing change, and accepting change and learning to let certain things be.

Thank you dandelions.

Bye Bye Balloon!

Dear Hannah and Emma,

Sylvia sent me four jars that contained pretty yellow things...a fat bee, a little chick, half a lemon, and a balloon. Well, the bee and the chick got away, I ate the lemon, and then decided to set the balloon free. I wonder where it will go? Maybe a little bird will tell you!

Have fun,

Carla