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Creative Play

Art

ten days of art | creative play

As I shared in THIS POST, I want to make the most of this season of waiting.  One of the things I want to do is take some art classes that had to be set on the back burner when I needed to focus my attention on packing.  Now, I am able to find some time to learn, read, and practice.  If you know me at all, you know that I am a multi-tasker when it comes to just about everything!  I’m usually not reading one book, but several…listening to an audiobook, reading another, and looking at another picture-heavy book for inspiration.  I don’t just sit and watch TV, but I watch TV and knit or sketch or sew or get on the floor and stretch.  And, when I’m taking an art class, I don’t just take one, but bounce between a few. The class that I’m focusing on the

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Art Supplies

art supplies | ribbon ties

I remember reading a magazine article about the dos and don’ts of decorating according to interviewed experts.  One of the designers said an absolute don’t was bows.  Even when I read it, I had an immediate reaction.  Oh, I totally disagree.  I mean, I think we can agree on huge bow tiebacks on curtains in 1980s mauve, but bows can be lovely, feminine, and a great little finishing detail.  I’m thinking specifically about simple bows on the back of a slipcover, tie details on the top of a pillow, and a ribbon tie holding a book closed. A few vintage art portfolios I’ve purchased have had ribbon ties and I felt inspired by them.  There’s something in the act of untying a ribbon that makes it feel like you’re in for a treat just opening the book.  It’s a little gift, even if it’s not a surprise. So, I’m no

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Art

15 creative exercises to fill your sketchbook

Last night, I said it out loud.  “I am finally starting to really see myself as an artist.”  I have put the title on my profiles and have reluctantly used it in introductions, but I didn’t really feel it down to my bones.  I don’t know what shifted or what gave me permission to internally embrace it, but it happened recently.  I’ll have to think about it a bit more…about what changed and why.  But the result is that I feel freer and more willing to make a mess and create something I don’t like.  I feel more accepting of what comes out of my hands.  And I feel more excited to draw and paint.  I am hoping to share some of that enthusiasm with you by starting at the simplest, most honest, and forgiving place an artist can start – a sketchbook.  I’m going to share 15 sketchbooks exercises

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Artistic Endeavors

embroidery workbook

While getting lost down an internet rabbit hole a few months ago, I found some lovely examples of .  For a time, every school girl had an embroidery workbook to learn basic necessary sewing and mending skills.  In a time when people just had 2-3 outfits and most items were handmade, these were as essential as typing is today.  I actually remember, even in the 1980s, making a cross-stitch sampler in school.  Although, at that time both boys and girls did the project and it was more of a craft than a life lesson. I was able to purchase a series of three antique sewing books from 1902 to1905, all completed by the same school girl.  They are fairly simple, but some of these books can have miniature dresses, aprons, lacework, monograms, etc.  You can see how women in the 1800s turned out such beautiful sheets, tea towels, and other

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Artistic Endeavors

creating like a bowerbird

Last year, I was introduced to the bowerbird through Sibella Court’s book .   It’s a gorgeous book about creating beautiful interiors with collected items.  As someone who loves collecting, hunting, pecking, and curating, that book was right up my alley.  But, I recently did more research on the bowerbird and realized I have more in common with this bird than I knew.  The bowerbird goes beyond collection and creating, but collects and creates very specifically.  The satin bowerbird collects and decorates only with things that are a specific shade of blue.  He’ll even go so far as to pick things out of his surrounding area that are colors he doesn’t like (reds and pinks specifically.)  If you’ve read my blog for a while, my de-redding things will have a familiar ring. In my personal creative time (creative work that isn’t specifically for creating profit but is just to play for

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Artistic Endeavors

making handmade watercolors

You can find the first part of this series about making handmade watercolors HERE.  That post shares about the pigments I purchased.  In the second post, I shared the handmade watercolor binder recipe I’m testing out.  You can find that post (along with a printable recipe and video HERE.)  I received so many comments and messages from people who were eager to see the binder actually mixed with the pigment to make handmade watercolors and that is going to happen in this post and video! Let me lead off by saying this is my first time making handmade watercolors.  I’m very experienced when it comes to working with paints and pigments, but actually mixing the paints is new to me.  I am so excited to finally be doing it though.  It was actually on my to-do list for 2021, because it’s something I’ve been curious about and interested in trying

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Art Supplies

Mineral Artist’s Pigment Set from Choosing Keeping

As I shared when Feels Like Home launched, I’m not likely to throw a big party.  I just want to have a good dinner at home with my family and throw a bit of confetti in my studio.  But, I also like to celebrate special occasions with gifts!  So, I got a few “book presents” for myself at each major milestone – signing the contract, turning in the manuscript, and launching the book.  One of those book gifts was a new camera lens and I’ll share that in another post.  One was a beautifully restored 1920s Underwood typewriter in the most delicious shade of green.  (I bought it from .)  And one was a set of 104 mineral artist’s pigments for the “what’s next time” that comes after a major project. Isn’t this typewriter just the prettiest thing?  I’ve come to believe that every writer should treat themselves to a

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Artistic Endeavors

creative play | lino cutting & printing

“You can learn new things at any time in your life if you’re willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up for you.” ― Barbara Sher When I was in my 20s, I decided I was going to learn to play the violin.  I bought a cheap student violin with a warped bow off of and a beginner’s book with a CD to get started.  As I waited for my order to arrive, I had visions of being able to play beautifully from the first stroke.  It would be an intuitive talent that was built into my DNA.  Well, I pulled my violin out of the case and, just as you would expect, I needed to learn everything.  It was disappointingly unfamiliar.  I had to learn to set up the bridge, rosin the bow, and the finger placements.  I had

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I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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