I’ve made 12 school book bags and 15 pencil cases. Cut out, I have another 6 book bags and 16 bigger pencil cases. There are also about 40 little critters that will be looking for a new home.
Just some inspirational words to go on some of the super-sized pencil cases and I’m done! And while I’m at it, a shout out to Alisa Burke as without her book Canvas Remix, I wouldn’t be making these things.
Life has been very busy but still I managed to squeeze in a little time to doodle . . . not a lot of time but at least it was regular.
I often work with teachers and students to develop SMART goals: Specific, measurable, Achievable, Realistic and within a Timeframe. On this occasion I made one for myself. Often my goals are achievable but unrealistic so this time I kept to the KISS principle and Kept It Simple Sweetheart! My goal was to do a very small doodle a day for a month . . .
OTD stands for On The Day. There were only 5 occasions when I was late so I feel really good about the other 25. Why would I beat myself up about the 5 late ones?
Not long after I began this, Violette Clarke was encouraging everyone to do Messy Art Daily for much the same reasons . . . a little and often is the trick.
I’ve also attended a conference in Auckalnd recently and managed to squeeze in some creative work there as well. I seldom take notes because I know I won’t refer to them again. I tend to listen intently, perhaps jot down some key words or references and follow up with reading more on the subject later . . . this time I doodled as I listened, pages and pages in my Black and White Journal!
When I go away I take a minimum of materials. The Doodle a Day needed just some pens and one Copic Marker (the damn thing bled through the page, most annoying!) however my watercolour crayons and pencils smuggled a ride along with a small Moleskine and spray bottle.
The pencil-case is one of several that I made recently after borrowing Alisa Burke’s book, Canvas Remix, from the library.
So, how do your squeeze in some creative time when you’re run off your feet?
It rained for the first time in what seems like weeks yesterday, and again today. So what? You might well ask.
New Zealand lamb and dairy products, New Zealand wines, all world-class, all contributing to this small corner of the world’s wealth . . . we began building this country and made a name with primary produce, farmers are known as ‘the backbone of the country’ and we have a clean, green image, although in reality we’re probably no greener than many other places. Perhaps we’re a little greener though in that our native forests are predominantly evergreen.
But I digress. The entire North Island and much of the South is experiencing a drought, a severe drought that has everyone saving water. There are often water restrictions through the summer however in Wellington the situation is such that there is a ban on all outdoor water use . . . no watering your garden, washing your car or windows, filling the kids paddling pool. So the rain is very welcome even though it isn’t nearly enough. This satellite picture, courtesy of NASA shows how parched the land is.
Satellite images from March 2012 (L) and March 2013 (R) show significant browning across the North Island. Photo / NASA
Our lives can have their own droughts too. It may be time, affection, money, but all, hopefully, temporary situations that will be relieved eventually – harsh circumstances are easier to accept when there is an end in sight.
Sometimes I feel as if I don’t have the time to do what I’d like to do and my weekends could be regarded as ‘drought relief’ as I relax with my family, catch up with friends, or work on some creative project. Recently I have been making some pencil cases out of hand painted canvas.
I borrowed Canvas Remix by Alisa Burke from the library and started to play . . . with a little help. I used canvas fabric, acrylic paints, an old credit card and stencils – there’s still some more to sew up. I even made a label for my laptop bag.
Each piece will make 2 pencil cases. I did 2, and the others were done by my granddaughters aged 8 and 4 . . . I defy you to guess who did which ones!
Drought broken!
late start studio 