Recommendation: Recommendations!
I like flowers. What do you like?
Once upon a time, I was crafty and artsy and I could cook pretty well—at least, I could whip up hippie food and Asian-inspired vegetarian fare. I had a lot of Ideas for Projects, and often I saw them through.
Then, I got what I really wanted: a family! And after that, I was so very happy but also: I got tired. So very tired. Also, I became a parent just as streaming and social media and other even-non-addicts-get-addicted technologies unfurled.
So I lost my artistic way. I’ve been trying to find it again.
I started with the easiest of crafts, needle felting. I love flowers. I love poppies the most. So I started needle-felting some poppies and other flowers, and then making some cards with flowers of painted paper (paper I have had for thirty years!) and then drawing some poppies, and then drawing some poppies on the wall, mostly by watching Instagram videos of quick-drawing.
My plan now is to practice a lot of different styles of poppy-drawing. I share these not [just] so I’ll get positive reinforcement, but because I want to know what others are doing to take advantage of being alive on this, the third planet from the sun—or just to avoid technology and the news. I want your recommendations for artistic (or intellectual or emotional or corporeal) fulfilment.
I'm an embroiderer. I could do it all day and never leave the house. It challenges me.
Ooh ooh ooh! I love the felted flowers! Thank you for sharing these! Funny - felting is one of those crafts that I do with my YA TI natal daughter when she is home, too. We makes little gifts. Flowers, animal ornaments and the like. There is a satisfaction in using the felting needle, though I confess I have stabbed myself a few times too many.
I have also taken up watercolor, primarily abstract designs in card form. I am very happy with this! I am learning new techniques (salt to the wet paper, blotting, etc ...). I started with flowers and landscapes, but really love the less representational art at the moment. It allows me to express emotion in a more imprecise, even messy way. We'll see what next month brings. Thanks again.