molly irwin

prayers please

There seem to be a number of people who stop by my blog who remark positively about my expression of faith, whether in the form of my lent journal or simply a remark I've made here or there.  If this is you, or if you share that belief, I ask kindly that you might remember my dear friends the Barry family in your intentions today.   A young, vital and otherwise healthy man, husband to one amazing woman, and father of three, is awaiting news of surgical possibilities following an aneurysm.  My heart is with them.

mystery + listen

I've been very busy with business this week, working on the web content, marketing, events and such.  Ha! 'busy with business' ... man ... can that girl write! Feeling pretty quiet on my personal blog front today, however there is a certain little project unfolding that I'll share in three weeks time to coincide with another thing, so all around there is a quiet flurry.  Sorry for all the mystery but ... soon.

Meanwhile, wondering -- why do I not own this music yet?!?  Have loved her for years.  The latest from Stacey Kent. 

challenges, part II

... finally, I'm getting around to saying something on this subject.

There is no shortage of creative prompts, challenges and swaps among the crafty blog community in which one can participate.   With so many people making, photographing, and sharing their projects ... the ideas, talents and influences are staggering. 

When I started my own site, I thought this might be a spot from which I could display my 'take' on some such challenges, but almost immediately thereafter felt an uncomfortable sense that following someone else's prompt was not for me.  You see ... I'm not a very good joiner.  I never was a very good Girl Scout, growing bored ... prefering to do things, see things, experience things and learn things -- quite stubbornly -- in my own way.  Also, there is the question as to whether it is creative to follow a prompt.  After all, it isn't my original concept, but someone else's who is moving in their own direction.  What then of my direction?  If I take the time to submit a piece to another's 'curriculum' (if you will) isn't that merely a distraction from my own pursuits?  The answer, no doubt, is yes. Yes. And yes.

The flip side is this: what we believe to be our own ideas are, in fact, a culmination of life experience and influence.  In short, this explains the impressionist movement; not because one artist chose to use a stipple effect, but due to the influence of others ... many did. 

I don't often feel creatively stuck.  Typically there are more projects rumbling around my brain than time to DO them, let alone remember all of them.   I jot down ideas in a notebook, lest they turn into more of the gray matter upstairs.   However, I'm realizing lately that sometimes it simply feels good to do something quick, just for fun.  Some of those reasons include the following:

• the opportunity to apply a new technique
• to gain an understanding of working with different materials
• to help identify my own aesthetic vs. that of the original presenter
• to push oneself to write down our own, unique thougts
• to move outside a 'comfort zone' or during a non-productive time

There are no doubt many other things to be gained from participation.  Blog prompts and challenges can be like mini, self-instructed classes. 

Before I took a scrapbooking class I thought, "come on ... why do I need a lesson in how to use adhesive?"  I knew what look I wanted to apply to my work -- and, in many ways -- i still feel that way.  By nature, I am a do-it-myself-er.   But what I took away from that first class was a lesson in methods, to be specific ... sandpaper.  That's right!  Sandpaper continues to be my favorite product to use.  Might not have thought of that otherwise.

[This is where I would place an image of my new framed ladybug piece (for my kids) prompted by Ali's butterfly collage, but my replacement camera battery must be the slowest item delivered in the history of the US postal service.  Or so it seems.]

Unfortunately, I am rarely satisfied with the end result of these visual crafty projects, as is the nature of such, we tend to compare and contrast our work to the original example.   This can be deflating and that's not good.   Does any of this factor into your thinking?

Taking a very selective approach to participation seems to be my personal preference.  I'm sure I'm missing something on this topic so, please ... do JOIN IN the conversation.  What's "your take" on the subject?

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Here's a partial list of some interesting prompts I keep an eye on:

paper adventure :: Elise Blaha

weekend creative :: Ali Edwards

eight by eight :: Blair + Daria (not so much a public prompt as a peak at their inspirations to one another)

shutter sisters :: photo technique + ideas

inspire me thursday :: Melanie Lynn Hamilton

1+1+1 :: Kal Barteski (1X personal challenge; very worthwhile.  My response here.)

Also, haven't forgotten my commitment to the Pay it Forward Handmade Exchange.  That's been coming together in my mind lately, too.

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March favorites

I haven't done one of these in a while.  Thought since my camera is awaiting some service, I'd share some recent favorites + creative influences from some very talented women on flickr.  Created with mosaic maker. 

Click on links for photo credits and enlargements:

1. daffodils from Pam by Abby 2. new journal format by Geninne 3. psychedelic & rainbow by Akihiro Furuta 4. saco/embalagem by Vera Joao 5. love & twigs by sly fox A 6. playmates by keico 7. pattern town by Swallowfield  8. Breite Italienne by Liquid Paper 9.  mini calendar by Susy Jack.

What I should have said

I might have gushed more. 

Perhaps sited favorite songs and experiences that, in some way have brought me to this deep appreciation for his music.  Let this be a lesson to me, that when I put a post out there into this blog -- whoosh ... there it goes out into the vast plugged-in universe, that anyone, anywhere [even the great Tony Bennett himself] might read what I write and believe that it is what it is -- and that's that.

But yesterday's post was not complete.  What I truly want to say to you, Mr. Bennett is this:  Thank you.  Thank you for your zest for life, your discipline to your art, your 'plowing through it' attitude.  Thank you for sharing your talents, your thought process (particularly the part about hearing and taking advice) and inspiring not merely other performers, creators, educators and audiences, but now readers like myself.

Now that I've had a weekend to really get into it, your book is so wonderful.  Amidst this ordinary life, currently with children in various stages of contagion, here I sit happily breathing in the beauty of your landscapes and sketches.  I'm reminded once again that a galvanized bin is no place for brushes to stay for long.  Daily?  Don't know that I'm up for that schedule just now, but weekly ... I can make that happen.

Oh, and I absolutely adore this performance. 

Thank you for gracing my blog with your lovely comment.

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And yes, dear readers, it's the real thing.