It is actually quite amazing how being creative can help me focus on the positives in life and catch my breath from thinking about all of the chaos and confusion in the world right now. No matter who you are or what you are going through, the simple process of making something is a great way to refocus your energy and your mind of all of the blessings we all have in life.
The more I listen to the voices of others, especially other women and mothers, the more I am convinced that no matter how alone we might feel in the midst of family drama and crisis, we are not traveling this journey of life all on our own. Not only am I convinced that God is always by our side to guide us through the scary and dark times, there are other women who understand and will walk along side us as well.
A few weeks ago when so many things around me seemed to be heading in a pretty dark direction, I was feeling that sadness and fear creep in around my heart . . . so I decided to make something . . . anything . . . to stop worrying and battling the anxiety. That's when I came across a few images in my searching that expressed a bit of how I was feeling. So I thought I would pull some of those images together in another altered book. This one is totally in black and white - well, kind of.
Because I always tend towards the "old fashioned" images, with a typically vintage theme, it was really not possible to stay totally with black and white. This book then became (mostly) black and (almost) white! Vintage images usually are in more subtle shades such as gray, ivory, and aged variations of light brown to dark brown. But still . . . it is all (mostly) black and (almost) white. It was challenging to find the right combination of vintage images and backgrounds, patterns and textures, but now that it is finished, I quite like it!
In some ways my altered books tell stories - memories, hopes, dreams, and sometimes loss and grief. This book reflects the untold stories of millions of women who perhaps had dreams of becoming a writer or a musician, or even possibly a farmer or a veterinarian. But in the midst of "real life," those dreams are often unrealized, but still we carry on with our memories and our hopes and our dreams. So that, even if it ends up being in (mostly) black and (almost) white, our lives can still reflect the beauty of the springtime blossoms that are popping up in my garden today.
And so we continue to get through a day, sometimes with Rose Cold Cream, or French Cologne Water, or playing bingo in the neighborhood church basement . . . . but always holding on to those dreams.
Daily we, once again, tuck those dreams and hopes into a tiny pocket in our hearts, and carry on . . .
I would invite you to give it a try . . . make something today! It doesn't matter what it is - bake a cake, plant a flower, sing a song, write a poem, or join me in telling stories through the creative process of designing your very own altered book.
You can also visit my NEW Etsy shop where I will be listing some of my altered books and other vintage journaling ephemera at Vintage Whimsy Studio. Or email me anytime at vintagewhimsystudio@gmail.com
Here's a sneak peek at the altered book I'm working on this week - Vintage Angels . . .
Wishing you a blessed and joyous week!
Nina
No comments:
Post a Comment