molly irwin

chronicles of near and far

I've been collecting images of where we live.  Not just photos of our own home, but of our town and its lovely colorful houses, gardens and the funky unique places around here that create the backdrop of the lives we play out. 

Just as do people, towns, cities and surroundings age and evolve over time.  This hamlet in which we've settled inside the capital beltway -- one that has managed to preserve its certain charms -- won't remain unchanged.   I haven't quite decided how I want to organize this story just yet, but in the meantime I'm gathering bits and pieces, perhaps to interweave with other family events, or maybe to be a stand-alone little book that we can flip through at times, just to remember the place where we bought our first home and the kids are small.

And the far part ... while out and about today I happened across a tiny volume, a beautiful photographic travel essay called Wanderlust, by Troy Litten.  After the mental volley over whether or not to buy it I finally succumbed on returning home by adding it to an Amazon order.   With so many photos of several small family car trips awaiting a plan, I found its style completely fun and incredibly inviting.

There are just so many projects spinning around in my brain today.

easy peasy

Words + photos week is in full swing at the Irwin home.

Last night in a couple of minutes I wrote a paragraph -- a short account -- about our drive to school.  I felt compelled to take a photo of the kids in the rear view mirror on the way to school yesterday.  We were all enjoying each other so much and I wanted to "snap" that.  There's a childrens' book series called Cam Jansen where the character Cam has a photographic memory and when she wants to make a mental note of something she says "click" out loud.  This had been one of those moments.

I typed the story right over a photo enlargement, mounted it on cardstock, added a date stamp and a circle accent and called it GOOD. 

The photo was over-saturated as I was shooting into the sun and had my camera set to manual in order to have the correct lighting for inside of the car.  It was an ideal situation to add text directly over the picture.

Is this going to garner any praise as a scrapbook layout?  No, probably not.  Do I really care?  No.  Is it my favorite thing ever?  No.  It's beyond simple, but it's done and that's the important thing.  Really.  There is always tomorrow to create the next story to satisfy that drive to make it better.  Isn't there?

What is accomplished is I've satisfied my primary goal of capturing that moment for myself and the kids to keep as they grow.  That is what matters to me.

Oh, and I have four other things in the works as well.  Can you say liberating?

... blew bubbles with an ecstatic Marty before his nap.

showed him the wonder in running a stick along a fence ...

looked up at the sky from under my neighbors garden, dreaming I was Gulliver, or Arrrietty ...

Considered this quote sent to me by Lori, a while back:

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. - Emerson

And did a whole bunch of far less interesting things for work, but these are the memories that I want to keep from this day.

oh yeah, it's a keeper

Not a piece of school work, not a requirement, just a way to pass the time.  - Joan, age 6

blue wrap

I'm having way too much fun playing with my craft supplies for the 30 day macro challenge. 

Seriously, it's been really good motivation to organize and invigorating, coming up with fresh project ideas just by touching and re-arranging them.

Since I saw this photo of Ashley's I thought this was a great storage idea.  I found these nice oval-head clothespins at the dollar store and was surprised to find just how many lengths of various ribbons I had strewn around here in different places.  I didn't think I was a big ribbon person before, but apparently I like ribbon.  What do you know?

Ladies, what hem length is best this summer?

Answer: you're all in fashion.

Okay, play time over.  It's in the jar with you, and no elbowing each other.  Oh ... I guess that won't be a problem.

   

texture + technique

[click any image to enlarge]

Finally I finished this small book inspired by Ali's weekend creative prompt -- and not a moment too soon, as my head moved on a while ago to newer things. 

My favorite part was combining texture with monochromatic color, and the simple, physical act of applying paint.  That really satisfies!  I sat considering the painted form for some time, thinking about how to deepen the color and highlight the contrast.  The solution was adding a glossy top coat (Liquitex gloss medium & varnish) That gave the color a richness that I wanted.

Taking some time away from gazing at Ali's example helped me focus on what I wanted to say to my son, to make it my own ... and his own.  After doing that the words came pretty quickly.

I have to admit the idea of running my new sewing machine through transparency (as Ali did) made me kind of nervous.  Instead, for interest, I printed photos onto canvas and simply used painted chipboard as accents.

The back cover (not shown) is covered in the wave print from page 1 and has the date + one of my "handmade by Mama" canvas stickers.

Another project ... another lesson in technique. Thanks for the jumping-off point Ali.

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Materials: corrugated cardboard, transparency + canvas inkjet cloths: Office Depot, paint: making memories (color: dusk), chipboard letters: Heidi Swap, chipboard circles: Maya Road, random alphabet stickers: ??? (leftover from something), patterned papers --wave: American Crafts, circles and stripes: Chatterbox, swirly clear stamp: Rhonna Farrer + Tia Bennet for Autumn leaves, blue stamping ink + random circle stamp: Target $1 section. (past season)

what are your royal menageries?

[silver disk: papier valise, 5x7 craft moleskine, file folder: greenroom eco for Target, watercolor cover art Print Magazine, April 08]

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Reading aloud at bedtime is good for more than just children.

Just the other night, when I came to this part in Ella Enchanted, (btw the book is much better than the movie, which is good too, but the book ... just plain better)  I had an inkling* of an idea:

"The next morning I woke with my fingers curled around Mother's necklace.  The clock in King Jerrold's palace was just striking six.  Perfect.  I wanted to rise early and spend the day saying goodbye to the places I loved best ... I started for the royal menagerie just outside the walls of the king's palace.  My favorite exhibits were the talking birds and the exotic animals ... I bought a morsel of yellow cheese from the stand next to the cage and toasted it in the fire."

Such vivid descriptions had my mind's eye wondering about my own favorite places.  If I had to leave here tomorrow, what would I want to jot down today as a collection of favorite little things?  What are my "royal menageries"?  My "morsels of cheese"? 

I've had the silver charm (above) for some months now, and knew I wanted to use it on a little book cover; a collection -- and this seems just the perfect thing.  A new project idea.

I'll be going around photo-capturing my favorite little places, things ... objects of my affection ... items I could describe purely as happiness-found.  Along with the photos I'll add a few words with the stories behind the image, with some detail of just what makes the collection personal and meaningful.

Want to join me?

_______________

* hint, hint

Lately I'm feeling like there's no such thing as outtakes

And I'm having trouble clicking that delete button.

little bits

I'm pretty cheap frugal when it comes to spending for scrapbook supplies, often using office supplies, dollar store finds, or repurposed items to put little books together.  I find it lends a simple, custom look to my projects and keeps the focus on the photos and words, with any embellishments sparingly added to provide something of relevance.  It's part of my philosophey.

When I do buy things to have on hand I try to make sure that I really love them, and for the most part I don't keep much of a "stash" -- a few mini books, some stamps + ink, (that can be used over and over), basic cardstock + papers, paint etc.  It doesn't feel like much.  It doesn't take up a lot of space.  I like that.

Since I do really love the tactile sensation of the those little bits I happen to have on hand, I thought they would be fun subject matter for the 30-day macro challenge: just to show their simple beauty before they become part of a completed project.  How convenient since I don't have too many new complete projects to share just now.

If you happen to have extra scrapbook items laying around that perhaps don't fit your style or needs anymore, here's and idea by Emily Falconbridge to put them to better use.  Sent to me via Jen who is also sharing her excess.  check it out.  Thank you for the email, Jen.

the story of us

The story of us has coin tosses (more than one), a helmet in my hands, but not for the motorcycle in his driveway, and happy hour that went on 'til closing.  Lost keys ... a ride offered and accepted ... a glance to the driver's seat and a flash of what might be.  Surprised, I had to look away.  Is this what they talk about? That moment when you just know? 

Our story has mutual acquaintances, first meetings and then -- after two (or was it three) years -- second chances.  All night talking.  A fish called Pablo.  A misspelled name. There was a flight and a ferry to Nantucket. Beer pong and scrabble. He drew the Capitol building upside down on a paper table cloth.  And the token wooden whale.

We had weekend visits in two cities, phone bills, coming apart [quietly] and back in our place once more.  A camping trip ... a flannel shirt ... and a leap to new places.

I want so much to get this down (not all of it here in public, of course) It seems so important and yet so intimidating.   What if I miss something? Or get it wrong? How can I convey my heart? I want my children to know (to some day see) how we came together and how we found our way before they came along.