2024 is gone...

...and I was wondering how it went so fast, especially in the studio, until I realized just how much I'd accomplished.

I finished 'Another World' (a 3 x 4' project that was a year in the making),

made a collage page or two (read 10-12),

realized a full table size butcher paper mess into something entirely different,

resolved 80 mini collages in this Bits & Pieces journal,

some of which I really liked,

completed a 6" x 6" series of five colour scraps on black paper,

finished (abandoned?) a 16" x 12" 'Wild and Dark' painting,

made a book to house some of my favourite tags,

and readied another travel journal which will eventually house (who knows what?). 

Usually  as winter approaches, I hand-cut a host of snowflakes, a life-long passion.  This year, I only managed one when I found a simple basic snowflake cut online.  I alterered it a good deal, and managed to decorate a Christmas gift with a Loveflake.

I'm nearing the end of my quote book, and look forward to finishing it in January.  It holds some of my all-time favourite quotes, along with some collages and other colour play.  Oh how I love books!!

And of course, there were many more forays into the studio than these, from gel printing frenzies, play dates with artist friends, glazing experiments, a massive project to sort 114 years of family photos, Christmas card-making, paintings for the grandchildrens' birthdays, and hosting a group of ladies to create bookmarks for the library.  

In truth, my studio life is just as much about decreasing my stash of paper scraps as it is about creating new things or fund-raising on behalf of the library.  As always, I am hugely grateful for my creative life.

Yes, I chose...

 ...my phrase for 2025.

To say 2024 has been a challenging year understates the reality by a gazillion squared, so I knew that my phrase for 2025 would need to really pack a punch.

I studied for years with a spiritual mentor who was one of the most loving people I’ve known, and taught me about the real meaning of love.  It’s definitely not always about being kind; she was hard-core, and a proponent of tough love.  She spoke the truth, as she saw it, to others in all circumstances. She made a habit of practicing love in all its forms – love for others, love for self (although she did admit that loving oneself was a difficult thing and sometimes the most one could do there was a grudging acceptance), and love for the situation one found oneself in (another tough one).  The thing she spoke most to, though, was the fact that our responses to others, ourselves and situations was a matter of choice. 

My phrase for 2025 is, then, 'Choose Love'.

As usual, I've got reminders in every corner of the house,

in every size, from business card in my wallet,

to smaller ones for little corners,

and from the wildly coloured,

to the somewhat less so.

Regardless of colour or size, they all impact me, and should help me stay on track for the year.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your word or phrase for 2025.  What have you chosen?

And the beat goes on...

 ...in the mini quote journal.

And given that I'm waaaaaaay behind on Christmas prep, I'll just leave this right here, along with wishes for the best holiday season ever for you and yours.  May you find all the love, laughter and joy you could possibly hold.  💗

I'm still playing...

 ...in the small quote book, mixing quotes ranging from art to spirit to outright silliness.  It's going to be fun to see them all in and catch a sense of where my mind was in this particular month - or maybe months, depending.

As with most of my books, the initial stages are all about being 'in progress'.  It's impossible to tell at this stage what the final look of each page will be.

Reviewing this post, I'm amused by the amount of brown in it; it's obvious that my ennui with that colour meant I was chopping scraps with abandon to fill the signatures.  🤔

May your pre-holiday creative time be as much fun for you as has mine...and here's to a possibility of Christmas baking in the next few days!!  

Stripes?

Maybe!  I was playing with some friends this past week, and got obsessed (again) with the strips of paper in one of my 'files.'  I was so absorbed that I didn't even remember to get photos of my friends, or the lovely play they were engaged in.  I'll do better next time, I swear.  😵‍💫

I really tore into the quote book that's been rattling around in my brain for ages.  The book form was already in place (a travel-type journal with removable signatures), so I finally printed the quotes I love, 

and started adding them to the first signature.

Naturally I got to use some of the paper strips, since they were staring me in the eye from the table.

The book size itself is 5" in height and 3" wide, so the quotes themselves are 3" high by 2" .  While it doesn't leave much room for embellishment, there's certainly enough for a pop of contrast.

And, squirrel!  We were sitting in the living room having our morning coffee, and noticed the 

pattern on the ceiling made by the china cabinet lights.  

That led to John opening the cabinet doors, leading to more patterns on the floor,

and a variation of the ceiling geometry.  

If you're like we are, you will undoubtedly notice the strangest things in the world around you, and occasionally follow them awry, too.  😉  Happy exploration - may your week be one of a wandering artist's eye.