Construction - An ATC Project

Construction: the Topic of the Month!

In between what felt like a month of failure on the Home School front (though perhaps I should read my own blog and be encouraged!), and a general meltdown along the lines of 'there is simply too much to do I am going to stuff everything - including my children FOREVER and will this house ever be clean? - up' of epic proportions, I made some ATCs. I took photos to prove it to myself! Here is their story....

ATC is on the right hand page - I added it to my journal because I felt like it!

With a husband who is an architect (and whose registration has just been changed to Australia, YAY!) and a father who is a draughtsman and builder, I wanted to avoid the obvious subject choice when one thinks immediately of 'construction'! I have three boys and have seen enough diggers and excavators to no longer get over excited by them, and I am well over Bob the Builder...

Instead my thinking was along the lines: what do I try and construct, and how? Can I enjoy the process, or just the end product?

I thought it would be a good chance to practice construction of design and layout using collage and mixed media because it is something I enjoy doing. I especially liked the quote in the back (obviously!):

A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault.

Creative 'Construction' is something I struggle with, because the end product always falls short of either what I had in mind, or I just end up not liking what I have laboured over. It is certainly never perfect and though I am learning to deal with that I can always find fault. And I discover that that prevents me from doing very much art work at all, which means no improvement (as it is said, The Road to Success is Always Under Construction!), and worse, no fulfilling my need for creative expression and therefore any sense of satisfaction in life at all (warning, possible over dramatization...). So it has to stop. Or rather, to start!

I attempted to make the cards open like a book, stitched on one side. The pages on some cards open, on other cards they do not. I figure that we don’t always end up on the page that we are expecting (heck, sometimes we're not even sure if this is actually our story!), and we often just need to change our perspective because it isn't always a bad thing- and life can sometimes look a bit better. And just between us, haven't you sometimes wished there was a manual, for many things? 

Sometimes we don’t get the ‘full picture’ and it may appear that what we are constructing in our lives looks unfinished. (Indeed, it isn't all over until we shuffle off this mortal coil!) In that respect, I like the way these ATCs don't announce if they are finished construction or not. They are unapologetically what they are. 

It is sometimes very satisfying to say that you have completed the construction of a project. I can say that because it has happened, once or twice! With some projects it can be difficult to tell if you've finished. If you’re really lucky sometimes you can say – yes! That IS finished! I don’t get that very often, but I am learning to let go and enjoy the process of construction.

Another thing about construction, often there is a little demolition involved. A re-work, a change of direction, a re-construction even. Some good ideas are sacrificed. I think that is a poignant thought. Especially as I am trying to do so many good things at the moment. But the truth is there are many, many good things to construct; we can't do them all. We must simply choose the best at the time, and not worry. You knew there would be a catch! ;) 

And so, here is the result of my working to construct an ATC, a process, a life... a construction in progress. I got paint on my hands, and had fun. So I am overlooking imperfections and am content with the process. :)

I Am Sure Captain Wentworth Could Persuade Me...

My first International Swap!

The theme was favourite movie.... where to start THERE??? So many.... I did want to do Ferris Buller's Day Off , because that is right up there.

And so is The Fifth Element, Iron Man; I can't even think straight there are so many! It comes down to a simple question: What can I make without too much trouble sourcing supplies (seeing as In don't know may shops here yet), that won't take too long to make (because I will lose a week in postage) and won't be too 'embellished' to post?!

I am a big Jane Austin fan too. I love almost all movie versions of her books, but which to chose. Eventually I settled on Persuasion. And Rupert Penry-Jones doesn't dissuade much....

But seriously; separated, 'Persuaded' to break an attachment and being heartbroken for years, then to receive this letter? I think I would die! Jane Austin, you give us too many high expectations. But then, that is not always a bad thing....

'THE' Letter...

In the layers of paper, I included an nautical stamp and ledger paper, to represent various aspects of the story. I made a 'seal' out of paper clay (I have mailed sealing wax before without success!) 

 I stained some tracing paper with distress inks and wrote out the letter, and tied it so it can still be read.

I sewed on the lace -unfortunately I didn't have any white, as I would have preferred. And I don't know where to buy remnants etc here yet... :/

Given that I made them in a week, I am happy enough with the product, but I would like more time to explore shops here. A bit difficult with 4 kidlets in-tow and no baby sitters! Still.... it saves me money, no?

Dream a Little Dream

And only just making it into the end of year crafting frenzy... the December ATCs. Theme: What do I dream about?

Only three pics, because I was taking these photos as the packers were arriving and I was on my way out the door to trade these! Yes, I would have liked to have taken more care, and I probably should have at least cropped these pictures, but as it is I am late starting tea ;)  'Whack 'em up' has become the motto of the evening!

The idea was that the clouds are the 'dreams'. And I loved the babushka stamp, I had been dying for a chance to use it. I had inks, paints and a few stamps left not in boxes - I ran out of the string that is supposed to represent a kite's tail.....! And there isn't much more to say really. Better go turn on that oven!

Ladies Choice

With all this relocating I am a few months behind with posting pictures. I am a few months behind creating much at all! All of my art materials were in a box for about eight weeks as they made there way across the Tasman. In the rush to up-sticks I had forgotten that I would probably want to create SOMETHING) during that time, and neglected to leave anything out to play with. What a lack of foresight! Of course I HAD to buy a few bits and bobs, for sanity's sake... ;)  I started a journal, but I have had little time to do much there either. We still have a few boxes to unpack and my 'spare' time is being taken up starting up our new homeschool year and trying to find our place in this new city. And it is a BIG city! I must say that I find myself, when opportunity presents 'spare' time, usually falling asleep in a chair! Oh well. It will come right soon eh? Well, eventually!?

So I am posting ATCs for November, and surprisingly December. I managed to finish the December ATCs the day before the house removers arrived; I thought I would make it! Needless to say, I hadn't many materials to hand at this stage (would you believe I gave half of my art materials away? Neither can I!), and it is an interesting project to see what one can produce with limited time and materials.

The sad conclusion to the above, is that I am no longer in the same country as my Altered Art group :( Eventually I hope to be able to do some long distance swaps, but I haven't been that organised yet!

November's theme was 'Free for All', that is to say, we could choose for ourselves.

In a nutshell, I decided to use materials and techniques that I have enjoyed over the year, and to encourage my arty friends. I chose 'Love Your Work'.

And Zoe chose to do Gingerbread Men. They are on silver baking trays, and each is different :) She put a lot of work into them and they looked lovely.

Positively Me

November ATC Topic: Positively Me

Not my favourite subject matter, but lets face it, it is just one step further towards the natural subjectiveness we bring to all our art, isn't it? Essentially the idea was that every now and then we need to evaluate ourselves, and be proud of who we are and what we have come through, and even become (also a good place to identify where we may need changes or improvements.... hmmm!). We were talking about how we always take pictures of other people, and usually scrapbook them, or at least look at them/show them off - you get the picture. But how often are we happy with a picture of ourselves? I am sure many of us can relate to this picture:

So we were told that we MUST have 18 different words to describe ourselves, and if possible, include a photo of ourselves..... I had to take a photo; there aren't many. And I am bravely about to share with you! But then, I had to alter myself a little. Are you surprised?

In fact, I Warholed myself. Click here if you'd like to do yourself! One of his paintings just sold for $21 Million, so these are worth at least five bucks. Each!! ;)

Some of the words are similies - 18 was a lot, especially if you're not your favourite subject matter..... and some may seem negative, but I don't consider them to be. They are frank, and true, for good or bad! It doesn't mean I am proud of all of them, but I know who I am, and I'm cool with that. Which is a good way to be, really! And yes, I am being a ham - my face does not usually hold this pose!

As you can see, the camera and the printer didn't show the vibrancy of the originals very well, so I have added them here. It was a bit of fun!

My Baby Girl: recently turned 8, Mademoiselle chose all the elements for her own cards.

I interviewed her about why she chose each each one. Here are her delightful answers!

'I called my cards 'Amazing Me!', because I am amazing and my Mummy loves me and she thinks I am amazing.' (Mummy starts to cry about here!!)

'I chose this picture of myself, because I like myself, and I thought it would be nice, and it's me!'

'I put a photo of my eye  on because I like my eyes; they change colour from blue to green and from green to blue, just like Daddy's, and they are pretty.'

'I put a flower with my fingerprint in the middle because my fingerprint is unique to me, and  I like pretty flowers.'

'I lost one 'eye', so I had to draw it on one card...'

The words Zoe chose are: Excited, Giggly, Fun, Fast, Flexible, Scary, Friendly, Pretty, Jumpy, Crazy, Impatient, Lovely, Surprising, Energetic, Cautious, Curious and Creative.

I am SOOOOOO proud of her! I would never have been able to do something so AMAZING about myself at her age - I struggle a bit now! Long may this positive self image last!