Sunday, February 21, 2010

Craft Therapy

While I was sick last week, I was browsing sites and blog hopping which led to this site, One pretty thing which believe it or not, I had never been to. I browsed for awhile and loved finding new etsy artists and craft tutorials. One that caught my eye was this one. The artist, Alisa, makes these "mended" hearts to symbolize relationships and broken hearts. I immediately knew that I wanted to make one of my own, but to symbolize something different. I made one for my mom and wrote and stamped down all of the difficult things she has had to endure over the last few years. . .mostly with regards to her health. I also stamped words like, "Courage", "Faith", "Strength", and so on. I glimmer misted, stamped, stitched and stuffed this heart. The messier the better. Then I reinforced the stitching. . .to symbolize that though she has been through so much, each trial has made her stronger. Do you get it? ;-P When I show these things to my husband, he scratches his head and is like, "Hmmm. . .is it supposed to look like that?" Haha. He does not get my art. This is the end result. . .



The canvas is Claudine Hellmuth's sticky back canvas and I used a typewriter to type the word "Strength" and pinned it on.

I also squeezed in a lo about my oldest dd

I tucked in some journaling in the little maya road envelope (love those!). I goofed on this one and already glued things down and couldn't remove them, but the process is what I enjoy the most. If you put pressure on yourself to create the perfect lo, then it takes all of the fun out of creating in the firstplace. Create for you! I used to create with the idea that others would see it on my online galleries and felt like my lo's had to be perfect, but when I began to let go and create for me - that's when I found my escape. My place to go when the pressures of real life are hitting me hard and getting me down. =)

Something I am looking foward to. . .if you go to the Crazy Daisy blog, you will see that Heidi Swapp is the guest designer AND they are going to have her new glimmer mists in the April kits as well as a House of 3 download!! =) I cannot get enough of glimmer mist, it's been my weakness lately when I go into Archivers. I just wish I could do magic with it like Maggie Holmes does!

Welp. . .off to finish editing pics. Just a sneaky of the cutie whose pics I'm finishing up. . .

Wouldn't you want to get back to work when you get to see that sweet face starin' back at ya? ;-)

PS. . .I should be getting my new wig in the mail tomorrow evening (did I mention I bought one so my mom wouldn't have all the fun?). =) I'll be sure to post pics.

10 comments:

Stephanie said...

What a beautiful sentiment behind the heart art. I love it! That last picture is gorgeous!!!!

Deana said...

I found One Pretty Thing about a month ago & let's just say I can spend a lot of time perusing through that site!

I ♥ the new LO.... so pretty!

And yay for wig pics! Can't wait to see which one you picked out!

Hope all is well with your mom. Have a good week, Amber!

Julie Johnson said...

Amber I love the heart! The symbolism is beautiful, and I love the color choices too. Your mom will love it. My dh shakes his too at some of my projects! Good thing we have blogs huh? :)
Julie

Pretty Arty said...

beautiful work of art!!

ThisKalilLife said...

I love the canvas you created. It's amazing. I'm a little obsessed with all things Claudine Hellmuth and have been working oon a canvas/collage of my own for months now. I feel more inspired to get it done now! Thanks for sharing :)

Jocelyn said...

Wow ! That is awesome! Your mom is going to love it. My poor hubby doesn't get my stuff or my blog...he just shakes his head at me;-)

Courtney Walsh said...

oooh. I get it, Amber! and I love it. I am sure your mom will love it too!! :)

Layout is beautiful...and that picture...to die for! :) Let me come shadow you and learn how to be a real photographer!!

chinamommy said...

i LOVE IT!!! gorgeous!! and your lo's... totally inspiring!!! i mean it, your art is just beautiful!!
~m

Greta Adams said...

what a lovely gift and that layout is FAB GIRLY!!!

i should really pull out some of my wigs and rock them along with ya'll... :)

Diann Hunt said...

I will treasure the mended heart always! Can't believe the depth of thought behind it. Love you, sweetie!