Photo Journal (07/23/11 - 07/29/11)

07.23.11 - Laughing at the bumps.

Picturing Laundry

Admittedly this post is pretty funny to me. I don't really expect anyone to do this, but in all fairness, doing this today really helped this creative-minded lady get some housekeeping done.

We've been out and about quite a bit lately, and because I'm efficient at washing laundry and absolutely horrible about actually folding it, we had a large mountain of laundry in need of folding. I refer to laundry as the most sisyphean task ever: I sort it, I clean it, I fold it, I put it away, and then I get to do the same thing tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day... Needless to say, I was pretty whiny about folding it today as the summer sun poured through the windows.

So I decided to make folding the clothes a creative task. Inspired by an art teacher who created an assignment for which students needed to submit a piece of art that demonstrated some sort of change over a time period, I took a photo of the pile of laundry before I began folding, and once I started, I took photos at ten-minute intervals until I was finished. And while it wasn't a big deal to pause and take photos every ten minutes, it definitely got me folding with more enthusiasm. As the end of each ten-minute block of time came closer, I would pick up the pace, hoping to create more change between photos. Basically, photographing my laundry made me more mindful of the steps I took to get rid of it because I paused to compare my past with my present. And every ten minutes, my present looked better and better.

I need to be more mindful of the changes I make in my life, no matter how small, because a few small changes in the right direction can add up to one big change for the better. I need to stop whining about the big laundry piles in life and enjoy the process of making them shrink to nothing.

Now I'm thinking about doing this with all sorts of tasks around the house. Organizing my studio, going through the pantry, emptying the garage.... I could enjoy the process and the finished product.

Recycled Ribbon Belt + Hair Bow

My daughter needed to wear a dress today. Unfortunately, the only one that fits her is a bit shapeless in design and I don't have a dressy belt to pair with it. So I dove into my gift wrap supplies.

Angry Birds Slingshot Game

One of the games I created for our Angry Birds party was a water balloon slingshot game. I recycled boxes for the various pieces of this game, so if you plan on doing this, I suggest you begin setting aside a stash of used boxes at least a month in advance.

Photo Journal (07/16/11 - 07/22/11)

07.16.11 - Lego wall.

Creative Spotlight : Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Photo credit: www.whoisamy.com

I ran across a video by Amy Krouse Rosenthal from 2008 called "17 things i made." In it, she invited people from Chicago to join her in making an "18th Thing" and what began as a small creative idea ended up turning into what is now called "The Beckoning of Lovely."

Her gesture of beauty has inspired people to be a part of something,... anything,... lovely. And hopefully in November, she will share the lovely little things strangers around the globe created together in her film "The Beckoning of Lovely." Check out her work and see if it inspires you to do something lovely, too!

Angry Birds "Toss Across" Game

I created an Angry Birds version of "Toss Across" to act as a time filler while the kids waited for others to arrive for our Angry Birds party.

Photo Journal (07/09/11 - 07/15/11)

This was a fun week for me to take photos. I gravitated toward more muted colors this week. I also went to Bikram Yoga more than normal, so I'm feeling pretty good. Feeling tired still, but I'm happy overall. Next week will be twenty weeks of daily photos. wow.

07.09.11 - Two wheels less.

Today's Haiku

I swept the wood floor
Then made lunch for crumb-makers.
Epic Sweeping Fail.

Creative Spotlight : Dear Photograph,

Photo credit: Brian Thurman/ http://dearphotograph.com/

A friend of mine shared a link to a creative photography blog by the name of "Dear Photograph," a project for which people submit a current photo of an old photo superimposed over the now changed old photo's location. If you don't follow what I just said, you should check out the website to get a better understanding.

It's a clever idea; an idea that seems to have connected many people to their own pasts. I find myself drawn to the idea of picking out an old photo from my childhood and seeing how the place has changed. Some people see what they have gained over the years, but most seem to reflect on what they have lost. What would you find by comparing yesterday with today?

Photo Journal (07/02/11 - 07/08/11)

I'm tired. That's the problem with having an overactive creative brain: I tend to burn myself out. I'm planning on increasing my Bikram Yoga classes as a way to pursue a more balanced existence.  Usually the classes bring me to a more peaceful place and I'm able to interact with the world a little more evenly. Maybe I'm just imagining this, but I'd like to think it helps.

On another note, I'm taking so many photos right now! I have a difficult time choosing between photos. My son is also going through a phase where he doesn't want so many photos taken of him. We'll see how long that lasts!

07.02.11 - Ham and cheese.

Recycled Vegetable Bins

My family gets weekly boxes of produce from a local CSA. I love the program, but I don't love that every week after I put away my produce, I'm left with an empty box to recycle. When I noticed how beautiful the boxes were, however, I came up with a way to reuse a few boxes by turning them into vegetable bins for organizing my pantry.

Angry Birds Birthday Party

After about a month of planning, we were finally able to celebrate my son's birthday in true Angry Birds style! Below, you can find links to many of the projects that went into creating this party. Enjoy!

Photo Journal (06/25/11 - 07/01/11)

The party planning has finished and I am now taking a bit of a breather. I always say that life should start slowing down now that *fill in the blank* is finished, but that never really seems to happen. There's always something to fill the time, and I can't shut down the creative side of my brain long enough for a rest. I wonder what project is on the horizon?...

06.25.11 - Party boy.