Choices, priorities and casualties of time.

This week I dusted off and revived a technique that my father taught me,when I was probably about 9, for making choices. Obviously indecision has been a lifelong affliction.
Over the millennia since then I have used this method whenever my head starts spinning with too many things to choose from. It is so simple.




You list all the 'things' numbered from 1 to however many. Out of the overwhelm I began my list like this:
1 make brooches
2 paint furniture
3 knit
4 collage........
This time my list was over 20 items long!
Next you write down the numbers like this 1/2 1/3 1/4 (1/ however many you've got).
Then 2/3 2/4 (again 2/ however many you've got)
Then 3/4 and so on till the end.
In my case the last row was 20/21.
If you haven't lost the will to live at this point you go on to choose between thing1&2,
thing 1&3,
thing 1&4
and so on till the end. Circling each number chosen and totting up your total 1's 2's etc.
It can be quite revealing. I was surprised to find that I really wanted to be exploring the ideas in this book.




I am sure there are flaws in this method. And simpler ways of making up your mind. But, I always find it helps me to settle to one idea while happily letting go of all the rest for a time.
I think they call that focus!




Anyhoo. This method works for me and today I have happily played with something new.

Still sitting with it. Working on, working through. Happily playing.



And today I had company. My little monster making friend came and shared some creative time with me this morning. She is a joy to work alongside.
Each of us can be quietly busy doing what we do quite comfortably. No need to talk but the talking that we do is as comfortable as the silence.


She collaged into a book and made a bracelet.


I collaged and splodged paint. Did cutting and sticking and drawing. Wrote text.


A great time was had.
I often find it hard to walk away.


But people and dogs need feeding. Also there is preparation to be done for tomorrow's visitors. Aunty and her friend, both 90, are coming to Sunday lunch. Aunty has virtually no memory but a great curiosity and sense of humour so it will be fun.
Her face is often radiant with joy at the small things.
Wise old bird, Aunty. I draw near and learn much.

Technology tantrum.

Don't you hate it when 'computer says no!' ?
Try as I might I cannot get the !!**!?**! machine to upload today's photographs.
Not a caring sharing iPad this.
Yours frustrated and grumpy.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The butterfly of happiness

Much of what I produce goes nowhere. Much of it leads me to despair.


In my head are all the negative words ever spoken to me by tutors.



But still I play. And this week I have been sitting with my doubts in a more comfortable and productive way. Having a little chat with myself. Very gently.


Asking what is it that is not working and why. Hanging on to the joy in making.


Trying new processes and seeing it all as a bit of an adventure.


Celebrating the tactile pleasures of paper, paint and glue.
Welcoming the butterfly of happiness.

Marshmallows as currency.

In my world this is currency........I wish.

My new friend Mr Power, he who set the sardine tin challenge, gave me marshmallows as thanks for a craft session on Friday.
Marshmallows are another thing along with creativity that Mr P and I have in common.




What is it about marshmallows that makes them so yummy? They are after all just a lot of air surrounded by sweet gloop.








It turns out that my other little friend who comes and shares crafty time likes marshmallows too. She came to visit today and we made a dent in the super-sized bag together while we looked at her new drawings.




Before she left I lent her a book to help her develop those drawings in stitch and passed on some materials that I no longer had use for.




We discussed ideas and shared names of artists whose work we admired.




We chatted about our favourite art supply shops.



And I tried to work simultaneously across these pages.
Some got finished and some need work.


I find it rather delightful to share this time in this way with these people.


All the more because Mr P is a young man in his early 30's little crafty girl is 12/13 and I am 54.
Art is a great leveller. I've always thought so. It cuts across age, gender, race and religion. It also bypasses intellect and mental capacity. That to me is something precious and a little bit glorious.