I Would Like

to learn how to sew. My 18 before nineteen list included sewing a dress, but I never got around to it. Maybe my 19 before twenty list will add it again. I never find what I want when I go shopping, so why not just make it? Yes, I think this summer I will learn to sew (now that I have posted it on here, it is basically fact).

Think about all the wonderful things you could make with this (source).

Writing Woes

There are so many things I want to write. I feel like I have so many ideas that are all lose ends. Why is it sometimes so hard to sit down and write? I want to write these stories, but I can't seem to put pen to paper. My mind wanders off to what happens next, or future characters, or other characters and other stories. It's horribly frustrating. There are so many characters I have, but I can't seem to write them. My mind's a mess.

March Movies

In the past month I have seen Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky, and Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox. I enjoyed them all.

Alice in Wonderland had a great story with another excellent acting job by Johnny Depp.

Castle in the Sky is not my favorite Miyazaki (I like Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away the best), but it was still excellent and I loved the characters.

Fantastic Mr. Fox was weird at times but that only made it more hilarious.

All three movies were beautifully made. The color and scenery in Alice in Wonderland, the art and animation in Castle in the sky, and the different look of Fantastic Mr. Fox. They really were wonderful.

The stories were great too. I hope someday I can write stories as imaginative and fun.

Gift Giving

I love getting gifts; I also love giving gifts. It's been three months since Christmas. Yesterday I finally gave M her christmas present. It's ridiculous to think I hadn't seen her in 3 months. I have always loved a prettily packaged present. Yes, the gift is meant to be opened and unwrapped, but I have always wanted to really make a gift look nice. Usually I run out of time, or ideas, or talk myself out of putting effort in something many people wouldn't notice, but this time I didn't. M is the kind of person who would appreciate a nicely wrapped gift (she usually does something creative), and I have been inspired lately by oh, hello friend's many package posts.

brown paper from cut up lunch bags

purple tags and cards from cut up paint chips

quote first found here

i love simple black buttons for an added touch

Haikus

What is a haiku?

It is a tiny poem

First made in Japan

Watch your syllables

Five, then seven, again five

Some are different

What are they about?

Many describe nature scenes

fish, wind, flowers, land

Sometimes they do not

Emotions are written of

and other topics

Why write a haiku?

Use few words to express much

capture a moment

I suck at haikus

We have started them in class

I hope I don't fail

Some Creativity

I wanted to make something today,

so I got out some colorful paper,

and made this.

Lovely shot with the electric outlet.

Yes, that would be cut up calc homework.

Another fun envelope (this time with the top flap cut off).

And, I made this.

How To: Envelopes

I have seen a lot of lined envelopes lately. As you know, I love mail, and I love sending colorful mail. Lined envelopes are lovely, but why not make the outside of the envelope the pretty part?

So, today I will show you how to make pretty envelopes. It is oh so simple.

Supplies:

1. Envelope

2. Pretty Paper (thick enough for mailing)

3. Scissors

4. Ruler

5. Pen/Pencil

6. Glue

7. Other Paper (optional)

Step One: Take your envelope and unfold it to form a template.

Step Two: Trace the envelope onto the backside of your paper. It will help if you mark the folds on each side (note the dash on my outline).

Step Three: Use a ruler to mark the folds with a dashed line.

Step Four: Cut out the traced envelope.

This is about what it should look like (though it will change depending on size and style of original envelope).

Step Five: Fold the envelope along the dashed lines. It may help to fold it backwards first so you can see the lines.

Step Six: Glue the sides to the bottom flap. I suggest marking where you will need glue first.

Wonderful.

If you would like, cut out rectangles of different paper for the address spots.

Spring Welcoming

Tulips are my favorite flower. If I ever have a garden (I hope someday I will), I will plant lots of tulips. My mom likes red tulips the best, but I think I prefer ones in pink.

Tulips in the Netherlands

I have always wanted to go to a flower market or someplace like this. It would be such a great photography opportunity. I love taking pictures of flowers.

Tulips for sale

Fields of flowers amaze me. I went to a sunflower festival last fall, but it was nothing compared to this. Could you imagine waking up to that sight? I would love to visit.

Tulip Field in the Netherlands

I had no idea the Netherlands were so populated with tulips. I hope I get to go see someday.

Dreary Days

Today is cold, cloudy, and colorless. It is misty, and worms are covering the concrete walkways. Luckily my classes end early, so I am staying indoors.

This weekend's weather was wonderful, though. Flowers are starting to pop up here and there (though I haven't spotted any tulips yet). Too eager to wait for full flowerage, this weekend I went to the conservatory where flowers are always in bloom.

Rules of Photography

I am a person who likes rules. I like organization and I like guidelines. If there aren't rules I will usually make some (though I am more likely to break my own brought on rules than those set by others). When it comes to photography, what are the rules? If I am traveling am I allowed to take pictures of the locals? If I am downtown is it acceptable for me to take pictures of the handmade sign in the store window offering ice cream? Is it okay to take pictures while shopping?

This is a subject I mentioned earlier in a post about project #1. Is is creepy if I ask an acquaintance, teacher, classmate, etc if I can photograph them?

There is a street in the city next door with amazingly colorful houses. I found the street by chance one day while driving about and I fell in love. I had always wanted to go back to photograph the houses, but I was afraid. Finally yesterday I went back with my boyfriend. I took a few shots, but he was uncomfortable with it, and so I gave up (he didn't mean for me to stop but I am easily discouraged).

The houses are so fun and the shots I got aren't so great, but is it creepy/rude/unacceptable to take pictures of people's houses? If I had a house this decorative I would be completely fine if people took photos of it (as long as they weren't stalkers and I wasn't in the photos), but does that make it okay?

So, when it comes to photography, what do you think are the rules?

Project #1, Post 2

I want to photograph people. There are a few people I have in mind, but I don't want to be a creep. What would you think if someone you knew, but didn't know well, asked if they could take your picture for a project they were doing to get better at taking portraits and photographing strangers? What if a stranger asked you?

I really want to do this, but I also really would like to not be a creep. Is it only fear that is stopping me? If it is then I should do it. "To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong." -Joseph Chilton Pearce. Right. Though, I think he could have stopped after fear. I must lose my fear of what people think. I must lose my fear of being uncomfortable. I must lose my fear of embarrassment. I must be brave. If only it weren't so difficult.

Photos For Thoughts:

Jelly Bellys are marvelous. Beautiful and delicious and so much fun.

Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jelly Sandwich: a dorm room dinner for champions.

Birthday Wish List

I love getting gifts. Is that bad? I love giving gifts too (if I think it is a good gift). In a little over a month I turn nineteen. These are some items from my birthday wish list:

Cox and Co Alphabet Stamps

Happy Tape

Divine Twine

An issue of UPPERCASE magazine

My art/craft/creating supplies are lacking. I am very excited at the idea of getting some fun gifts I can make things with. Plus, I have seen UPPERCASE around for awhile but have yet to get my hands on an issue. "The creative and curious," that sounds like me (and I especially love #5's cover)!

18 Things

Inspired by this (actually an older one), I made an 18 before 19 list last birthday. Nineteen is coming up quickly, so I am working on getting some more done. Today was number eleven.

18 things to do Before I Turn 19:

1. Save 3000 for Wimbledon

2. Sew a dress

3. Write 3 short stories that are good

4. Make a memories case

5. Go on a road trip

6. Take 100 non people/events photos

7. Summer Photo Challenge

8. Participate in a postcard swap

9. Discover 5 new “artists”

10. Finish cd a month plan

11. Write a story/letter/anything on the type writer

12. Watch all the movies on the movie list

13. Get donuts from that special shop

14. One tank trip

15. Learn a song on Guitar

16. Start Photo Wall Redo

17. Go Camping

18. Record my adventures

Things I have finished.

Things I have started and need to finish.

Things I have not started.

Some of the things I will not finish. Some will move onto the 19 Things list; some will not. It's not so much about getting these specific things done but getting things done. It's about doing. Today was number eleven. After some ink ribbon problems I typed my Wednesday letter on the typewriter. It was difficult, but it was fun to put the typewriter to use and to mark something else off the list.

Art Project

For my art appreciation final we have to make a piece of art that represents a culture or an artist. The professor gave us a list of several to choose from and I decided on stained glass. I'm no artist, but my mom had taken a stained glass class before and it sounded fun (plus you don't have to draw or paint anything).

This is the glass. Very pretty

With Mom's instruction I was able to cut out all the different parts (with a few mistakes) and start on the grinding. I have a lot of grinding to do, but it's fun.

These are left over pieces from Mom's previous projects. I love the colors. Hopefully when we get enough we can make a mosaic.

I am only part way done, but I am having fun and it is not as hard as I thought it would be. When it's finished I will post a photo step by step to show you the process. It will probably wait till I get back to school though, because it takes photos forever to upload here. It is nice to be making something.

I Love These Pens

Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine Rolling Ball Pens

They are great for note-taking, letter writing, paper critiquing, journaling, decorating, and story telling. They are my favorite thing to write with.

Hayao Miyazaki

I watched Ponyo the other night.

It was good. Cute. Much more kid-like and cartoony than the others.

My favorite is still Howl's Moving Castle. It's marvelous. Fantastic art, fun characters, and a good story. Go rent it if you haven't seen it.

photos from Rotten Tomatoes (Ponyo and Howl's)