CHILD IN HARMONY

April 26, 2010

DRESS UP THE DRESSER

I love old things. I like to keep old things. I like to use old things in a new way or give them new life. It could be considered recycling, right? Creative Recycling!

Old things have character and a feel to them I cannot adequately describe.
My youngest daughter takes after me in that passion. She has an appreciation for all things old.

One of my older daughters once asked me "Why do we always wait until something breaks before we get a new one?" I have thought about those words at different times over the years and it is just how I live and what I believe in, I guess. Even if money was no object, I still wouldn't go out and buy something new just to have the latest thing . If it still works, it does not even enter my mind to replace it?

Reaching deep down within myself, perhaps it is the basic fact that I LOVE old things. And I love to create, so it comes naturally that I want to use what we have.

My idea of a delectable day trip would be to scour antique shops and salvage yards, but everything I get will need a *home* so I try to limit my visits, and instead, work with what I have here at home.

I have had a particular dresser since I was a baby and that would make it close to half a century old. It was cream colored with beautiful painted birds on the fronts of the drawers. It is so clear in my mind. I remember the birds literally disappearing as the dresser was used year after year, child after child, six of them.

It was eventually tucked away up in the attic and it wasn't until years later that I re-discovered it. Standing in a corner, strong and sturdy, paint chipped here and there, it called to me. Not only did it evoke childhood memories but it was a useful piece of furniture beckoned to be lived with again. I took it home.

I had to wait to be inspired and it finally came from an enormous piece of furniture I saw in a furniture shop that made my heart sing.

It was huge and had a myriad of drawers, all sizes and in four different colors. I wanted to buy it but with the huge size and huge price tag it was not going to happen. Instead, I decided to used that inspiration for my dresser.

I painted it in FIVE different colors, attached white crackled porcelain knobs and filled it to the brim with art supplies like colored pencils, markers, various papers, wool felt, beeswax, stencils, yarns and more.

Atop the piece at the moment are some favorite books for children, a ceramic bird and pieces of a walking stick from a yard of a friend. It is still sturdy, solid wonderful storage. You can tell it has been used quite frequently as it already needs a paint touch-up.

This is one of my Creative Recycling projects for Deb's challenge.
What have YOU recycled...creatively ?

BALLOONING BAREFOOT

Day 20 in the Great Outdoor Challenge

Freedom is . . . playing with a balloon . . .

barefoot on the soft green grass . . . on a Monday . . . at noon.

WORDS

My weekly posting of a quote, a poem
and a passage from literature.

Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence,
and I learn, whatever state I may be in,
therein to be content.
~Helen Keller

The Gladness of Nature
Is this a time to be cloudy and sad,
When our Mother Nature laughs around,
When even the deep blue heavens look glad,
And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground?

There are notes of joy from the hangbird and wren,
And the gossip of swallows through all the sky;
The ground squirrel gayly chirps by his den,
And the wilding bee hums merrily by.

The clouds are at play in the azure space,
And their shadows at play on the bright green vale,
And here they stretch to the frolic chase,
And there they roll on the easy gale.

There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower;
There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree;
There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower,
And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea.

And look at the broad-faced sun, how he smiles
On the dewy earth that smiles in his ray,
On the leaping waters and gay young isles,
Ay, look, and he'll smile thy gloom away.
~by John Greenleaf Whittier

"When Joy finally did muster up the needed will and timing, she did it so strongly she compelled the mare to tear around the arena at a furious gallop. Joy tried numerous words and signals to get the mare to slow down to a medium trot, but Rasa would only speed up. As the woman's frustration grew , she began to shout in a louder, more commanding way, sometimes rushing towards the black horse and making larger, more animated gestures.. She tried this tactic for several minutes, completely unaware that her body language was unconsciously encouraging Rasa to speed up. Through a series of leading questions, I helped her to realize there was another option: to move away from the horse, slow her breathing down, take on a more relaxed body stance and visualize Rasa moving at the speed Joy wanted. Soon after, the mare was trotting the arena."
~ from The Tao of Equus

April 25, 2010

FINDING PATTERNS

My girl and I like many of the same things... nature, horses, art and color are among the many we share.
Today we went walking for patterns in nature.

Nature can really provide us with all the inspiration we need to create art. Patterns, textures and color are everywhere. It's amazing . . .the exquisite detail in all of the natural world.

This is Day 19 in the Great Outdoor challenge

   I especially love the similarities between the tree bark and her hair.
     Look closely and see what patterns and textures YOU can find?

     VISIT the others who play the challenge.

SUNDAY STROLL - RED

The quietness of the morning, and the gray sky with its intermittent splattering of raindrops, did not do much to motivate me to take a stroll. I was in slow motion and actually quite content to stay snuggled in the house if not for horses in the paddock neighing ," Did you forget about us?"

Sometimes the more you do, the more you can do.
It was then I decided to stroll with RED in mind.
Red excites, warms, and rejuvenates me.