creativity takes a few sidetrips...

the bohemian awoke to a hazy warm morning. the mountains were looking a bit surreal, as if they didn't truly possess any real substance. but off she went into the muggy morning, traipsing off to town for groceries and social engagements... ah...time for lunch break and social engagement #1: finding herself in historic old fairhaven and you know where... oh yes...back again to the little trolley diner for scrumptious fish and chips and chatting with a dear friend! and celebrating with new flip flops...orange and pink always works for the bohemian, and throw in a little chocolate brown. and yes, they were just calling her name! creative side trip: bridal shower for her soon to be daughter-in-law. this is her darling niece and the toilet paper wedding dress the bohemian helped create for her. but of course, there was a train to sweep grandly along behind. creative side trip: decorating for vacation bible school at her church. the theme was high seas expedition. thus the whole ship effect... the bohemian loved what a few creative ladies did on the back wall... the lighthouse "rocks" are scrunched up brown paper grocery bags! it was so wonderfully 3-D! then they recreated it again at the little A-frame church, a smaller-scaled and shorter version. creative side trip: spray painted "rock" sheets the bohemian created years ago that get used every year and a faux campfire made of shimmery mylar and tissue paper and christmas lights. magic! it is so amazing how many uses the creative imagination can be put to. and making magical things happen for children is one of the bohemian's favorite ways to use hers!! may there be magical creations and splashes of summer color in your world today! hope you find some playing time... and use that lovely imagination of yours! it is such a gift!

simple pleasures...

simple pleasures are life's greatest treasures... it's perhaps cliche but oh so true! it feels like its time for another gratitude fling! and so my list begins: my bohemian mountain majesty; the gorgeous sunny days we have been having; the balmy breeze that keeps it cool... this gift of a pashmina silk scarf from my daughter; the silver threads that run through it and sparkle softly; the lovely green swirls... time for creating art!! the gorgeous colors of art papers; paper punches and inks and stamps and embossing powders; and powerful imaginative, creative WORDS... metallics that shine and sparkle; glue, paper, scissors and tape; an intimately personal way to send love and wishes... colorful and powerful reminders to laugh and to hope... and parties!!! with balloons and crepe paper and cake and champagne punch and laughter and gift giving and loving friendships and family... what's on YOUR gratitude list? go ahead... have a gratitude fling! we have sooooo much to be grateful for! hope you find some playing time to heal your soul and make you laugh.... party laughter wishes to you....

standing on the deck of her neighboring cafe, the bohemian smiled to herself. it was such a lovely week of summer they were having in bohemia! while awaiting the arrival of her favorite lunch sandwich, she wandered out to the little peddlers' market set up under colorful umbrellas in the overflow parking area. there she bought two lovely magical handblown glass treasures. she was so happy to be having lunch with her honey here just a short walk from their cottage. many motorcycle riders had stopped to take their lunches at such a picturesque roadstop. looking out onto the patio/picnic/concert/horseshoe/party area behind the grill, she spied a lonely hula hoop looking for someone to swirly twist with... but her days of swirly twisting were behind her. hula hoops did nothing but put her back out these days... what was really needed was a curly-headed scallywag with a lovely and infectious belly-laugh and boundless energy... sadly there seemed to be none available at the moment. still, the bohemian enjoyed her yummy BLT to the utmost fullest!! and yes, she did say "YUM" right out loud...she always did. drove her honey crazy! but hey! you can't fault someone for enjoying something to the utmost fullest, can you?!! no, she thought not.... the day before, the bohemian had spent a lovely day crafting with her royal mother. these are some of the creations that sprang from her imagination: the blue card is three dimensional as shown below... outside in the afternoon sun, the bohemian smiled at the sight of the cat lopping contentedly beneath the sunny yellow summer flowers that delight the bohemian every single year!! although, if you look closely, you can see that the evil spellbinder bushes (blackberry vines) are trying to divide and conquer. they are so stinking healthy this year!!!! boo to the thorniness, yea to the berries coming later... the bohemian wishes and hopes that there is time for you in your world to lop contentedly in the summer sun. and very soon. and if you purr like that cat, that's completely alright with her. she just thinks EVERBODY does that anyways when they are happy and content. or eating something delicious. like ice cream dripping with raspberries fresh off their vines. or coffee with real cream and honey. or... or.... or.... WHAT IS YOUR "OR..."? she'd love to know..... warm summer purrrfectly satisfying and swirly twirly wishes to you all.

art saves...

for Ily. for her book. in Carmen's "ART SAVES" altered book round robin. the process of creating is such a deep JOY and intense PLEASURE. it's exciting and exhilerating. it's immensely satisfying and fulfilling. that's what this page is speaking for me and to me, and i hope for Ily.

DELIGHT IN LIFE....

yes, delight in life, even when it's hectic and busy and seems to be rushing by you... even when the whooshing sound it makes as it passes is a violent sound, like a winter storm. there are still always things of delight to be noticed: peonies with delicious colors and heady fragrance. warm summer sun on your skin. a joyful song blasting from the radio with a Caribbean beat. art friends to create with. the above tags were created on a whim, on a moment's notice, from the thought, "oh, I could make those with what's just on hand here...". it's just my deep desire for a warm tropical place speaking out from my inner soul...... and here is another of those tag folder, finally finished up... don't forget to DELIGHT in everything about your LIFE that brings you pleasure and joy... AND DON'T FORGET TO PLAY!!!!

in up to her elbows...

"To say yes, you have to sweat and roll up your sleeves and plunge both hands into life up to the elbows." -Jean Anowth So life is crazy for the bohemian right now... the card above is a graduation card for her daughter. Her baby daughter. Who's graduated!!! Where. Did. The. Time. Go........?!

Eighteen and off to try her wings....

next: #3 child & 2nd son... Marrying this summer!!! The bohemian is ever so happy as she adores this beautiful girl!! and the bohemian stamped up a storm at her quilty sister-in-law's playhouse because she also does rubber stamps, does this crafty sis-in-law!!!! one of the tag folders coming along... needs a few more things... a gorgeous summer day spent with #1 daughter (yes, the eccentric one who is soooo much fun!!!) went to proper tea at the Tea Garden, then shopped at the community farmers' market, which you see above... a bit of shopping, then COFFEE... then a string of rainy wintery days... brrrr! so she stayed indoors. played scrabble with a friend, read her beloved books, played in her art room, visited the library... and got out her "rainy day mug"... it says: "SMILE AT THE RAIN". this is a beloved seattle piece of art. it shows up on mugs, t-shirts, umbrellas, etc. And this little guy is on the back of her mug, just smiling away at the rain.... Hope you do, too..... Smile today....

one piece of paper...

take one fun piece of paper... make altered book pages for a round robin book about boys... and a few tags... add a favorite saying stamp and some punched flowers... use up leftover flowers on another tag project... one inspiration leads to another and another and before you know it someone has to come and fish you out of your art room so you don't starve to death in there!!!! hope your day includes some PLAYTIME in an art room (if you don't have one, go play in someone else's! they'll share! artists are very generous with their "stuff"....). patterned, colored paper wishes to you all today...