Word of the Year - Intentional

I've noticed several people choosing a word for the year recently.  I always thought it was a nice idea but could never settle on just one word.  Five or Six maybe.  A list for the Pick the Word of the Month Club maybe.  But one word for all 12 months?  Oh my.  The mere thought of it made this right brained girl dizzy.

But as 2018 came to a close and I looked back I found that I had actually lived a word for those 12 months.  Follow Through.   ...oh!  I guess that's two words, isn't it.  Well if you say it fast enough it sounds like one word.  Try it with me.   Followthrough.   See?  It works.

Anyway, the realization that I had lived a word (or two) for a year made me rethink the idea of choosing a word for 2019.  And so, here at the beginning of a new year ...   oh       You're thinking its February, Elizabeth.  You're thinking its not the beginning of a new year any more.  You're thinking I've missed the boat for new year thoughts and new year directions ...  and new year words.  

Well, maybe not.  I mean, isn't the point to start looking forward to the days ahead with a new perspective?  Isn't the point to move forward from where we stand with a changed direction?   Isn't that true whether the date is January 1 or February 8?       Yes, I think so too. 

And so my word for 2019, my very first word of this year, is Intentional.  The more I think about it the more I realize it encompasses everything.   I can know what is best to eat for good health.  And I can eat it, most of the time, when I feel like it.  I can know all kinds of physical exercise that would be beneficial for my health.  I can want to do said exercise.  I can choose to do said exercise.  But I have discovered those mental exercises are not enough.  You have to actually get up and DO them.  Ugh!  And I can want to be more creative.  I can choose to spend more time creating.  But actually putting pencil to paper requires more than that.  It requires the intentional choice AND follow through AND doing it again tomorrow.  And then the tomorrow after that. 

Oh my.  This is going to be a year of stretching and growing. 

So I will be back here in this bloggy space INTENTIONALLY in a few days.  I hope to see you here too.  I've been working on a large project for the last year and I will be sharing more about it in the coming posts. 

Do you choose a word of the year?  What is your word this year?  And how has choosing a word worked out for you before?  I'd love to hear.  I always hear about them in January but not so much in December.













Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Altered Bottle Art - A Tear Bottle

I've been wanting to create an altered bottle as a gift for a friend for a few months.  I wanted to make a Tear Bottle.  Now, my only experience with altered bottles was using beeswax as an adhesive.  That was a fun process.  But it didn't create the look that I wanted for this particular bottle.  But I was unsure as to how to go about it in any other way.  I mean, I would be adhering all kinds of things to glass.  What adhesive would hold well enough to last the test of time?  I wasn't sure but since this was for a gift, I didn't want to gamble on any of it.  So I took a workshop in altered bottles from the master herself, Christina Zinnia Galliher of Roses on My Table, and also of Artful Gathering 2011 and 2012.

Now, Zinnia handles the administrative part of my Creative Pencils online learning site.  So I was well aware of how capable she is and how well she communicates and how high her standards are for online classes.  So I pretty much assumed she would be a good teacher.  But she was so much more than a good teacher.  Zinnia was an excellent teacher.  She covered everything I needed to know with abundance.  She thoroughly demonstrated every step there was to be taken and she was richly generous with a variety of examples and with her time.

After watching the videos I was able to jump right into my project with confidence, clarity, and direction.  I was very pleased with the results of my bottle and I'm sure I will have fun altering many more to come.  If you have any thought that you might enjoy altering bottles, I would encourage you to take Zinnia's Mixed Devotions Class in the second session of Artful Gathering 2012 this July.  I just know you will have the best time creating your bottles with Zinnia as your guide.

All of the images used on this bottle were from The Graphics Fairy blog.  Thank you Karen.  

Wind and Honey Creations

A Look Into My World

One Amazing Man and Artist - Paul Smith

Paul Smith was born with a severe form of cerebral palsy.  He was not expected to live long when he was born.  But in spite of his challenges, live he did.  Paul used an old manual typewriter to create beautiful intricate art.  He was an amazing man and equally so as an artist.  This video is a bit lengthy - 12 minutes.  But it is worth your time.  It might be the best 12 minutes you spend today.  I hope this video inspires you as much as it did me.

Wind and Honey Creations

On My Worktable today...

Here is a glimpse of what I am working on now.  She is being drawn in graphite - Derwent Graphic 8B.  I do almost everything in 8B.  This isn't the best copy of the image but I just took a quick photo rather than a scan.  This swan has a secret.  And her secret will be revealed when she is complete.  I'll post her here when she is ready to share her surprise.  This piece was inspired by a young friend of mine who has overcome difficulties in her life and is moving forward with joy and strength.

And this is what else is on my table.  Kenya thinks swans are boring.  He is quite sure that he should always be the subject of my drawings.  --funny.....he's yawning but really it kind of looks like he's laughing!  Can you hear him?  HaHaHaHaHa!!!!

What is your newest project?

Wind and Honey Creations

Matchbox Swap

In February I participated in the Petite Inspiration Box Swap an art swap event sponsored by Speckled Egg.  This swap featured altered matchboxes.  We were divided into groups of three.  Before mailing our artfully decorated boxes, we filled them with tiny vintage goodies.  I absolutely love both of the boxes I received.  I thoroughly enjoyed this event and getting to know my two group members.  Here are pictures of the wonderful boxes they sent to me.

Jan of JaN'sArTyJouRney sent me this great box of goodies.

And Jen of On a Journey created this beautiful altered matchbox.  Look at those cute little shoes.  Love 'em!

And here are the boxes I sent to them.  I forgot to take a picture of mine with the goodies showing.  So, you'll just have to imagine these boxes filled with itty bitty great stuff.

This little bunny box is decorated with a digital collage that I created months ago but had not used yet.  This box went all the way to England to Jan of JaN'sArTyJouRney

And this peaceful little girl was sent to Texas to Jen of On a Journey

Did you notice what I did?  We didn't plan what we would be sending.  We talked about color preferences and style.  But made no particular plans.  Do you see that Jan used music on my box and I used it in hers?  And Jen used white textured embossed paper on my box and I used it on hers.  Isn't that interesting?

Now I have something funny to share.  Lydia and Bo have a DogIt water fountain.  The reason they have such an elaborate water bowl is a long story that I won't get into.  But last week the Poet was helping me out by doing the weekly cleaning of the dog fountain.  It is not exactly the most pleasant thing to do as there is usually a pretty generous quantity of slobber involved.  However, this time the reservoir was abundant with crumpled leaves and dry grass.    ---  huh?!!?     You have to wonder if Lydia is trying something new, carrying grass and leaves around in her big lips like chewing tobacco.

I have to admit that I felt a certain degree of relief that I was not the one cleaning the fountain on this particular day.  I left the room intent on another task.  Later, when I returned, I found this not-so-poetic note written to Lydia and Bo and taped right at their eye level above their water fountain.   LOL!!!

I'll let you know if it works!!!

Wind and Honey Creations

Mind Wide Open November Challenge

This is my first time to participate in the monthly challenge for Mind Wide Open. The image given was so lovely and really looked complete. It was quite a challenge to try to improve on it. I have manipulated the image digitally and then used it as a part of a collage on a handmade journal made with handmade paper.