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| Lovely Fairy |
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| Ugh |
Take your time, this is tricky. On the first item, which I call "Lovely Fairies," note the pretty ribbon, and the subtle glittery effect. Now examine the second one, which I call "Ugh." Would you believe it was inspired by the one above? Yes, indeed. Note the cheap, bent, plastic hanger instead of the ribbon. Also, observe if you will the heavyhanded application of glitter, which accidentally covers the words on the banner "Forget Me Not." See also the thick tacky birds stuck on the bottom (which kept popping off). What you can't see too well, because the pictures are so small, is the wrinkling of the yellow flower paper that I (oops, or the "pro") stuck on as a background, because I/the pro misjudged the size that paper should be cut to.
Give up? Okay, okay, I'll tell you. *I* made "Ugh" and someone talented made "Lovely Fairies." Friends and relatives, you can breathe a sigh of relief. I'm not planning to give "Ugh" to anyone as a birthday gift. Once I have attained a level of competence, however, you never know...
Practice makes perfect. Anyway, it's not so much the end result that matters, it's the process. Did you have fun making it?
ReplyDeleteKaren, I did have fun, so in that sense, it was a success. I'll keep at it; one day, it won't be as easy to tell which was made by me!
DeleteBlame it on the MS. Something about tremors or eyesight... visual/spatial all thrown off. Come on, you can do it! Meanwhile, sigh of relief that UGH won't be one of my gifts. I'd happily take a regift of LOVELY FAIRIES, however! MK
ReplyDeleteKeep your mitts off the fairies, Mary! (Just wanted to say that bc it rhymed...)
DeleteGood point about the MS (although I am following some pretty talented crafty bloggers w/ MS... Paper Chipmunk [AKA Ellen], I'm looking at you!).
I was diagnosed just before Christmas, and while waiting to get in with a neurologist, I came across info on the Swank diet. I started it a couple of weeks ago. I love your blog...thank you for sharing your experiences with such a great sense of humor!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the blog! As you can see, I've just begun, but it's really rewarding to hear from people who read it.
DeleteI am sorry you have "joined the club." How are you finding the Swank diet? Please feel free to share any tips or favorite recipes (or anything else, for that matter). Tonight I'm trying the skewered scallops. I have high hopes...
p.s. A sense of humor is a must for a hypochondcriac with MS!!
I've started out with Swank because it felt do-able. I like being able to have nonfat dairy. I miss cheese - I just don't see fat-free cheese working out very well.
DeleteBeing able to eat lean chicken and fish is nice. My challenge is that I'm a mom of 5 little kids and I don't know how much to "impose" on them. That said, my mom has advanced MS, so I'm highly motivated to try and do whatever I can to slow/stop progression. My doctor wants to put me on Gilenya, but it takes time and paperwork to get going...I figured diet was something I could start right away.
I've also been reading about George Jelinek's diet that takes Swank a few steps further. I may end up doing a combination...
How long have you had MS?
The fat-free cheese worked for me when I "hid" it inside an omelet. I haven't tried it in, say, a grilled cheese. I've heard mostly "meh" results.
DeleteOh, wow, so you do have a big challenge with kids. Good for you for starting on a healthful diet right away! I'm sorry to hear about your mom...
Best of luck as you navigate through all of the challenges. I'd be interested to know how the Gilenya goes.
I was diagnosed in 2005. I don't know how long I had it before being diagnosed, but I don't remember years of unexplained symptoms (although with my nutty hypochondria, it's hard to say!).
Paper Chipmunk (aka Ellen) is the exception which proves the rule. She is seriously talented and if I didn't love her I would hate her. Karen is another fellow traveller who creates some truly incredible cards. And I could hate her for it as well - except that I can't. And she is a poet and a photographer as well.
ReplyDeleteI actually quite like Ugh, and my tremours mean I couldn't hang it much less make it. So long as you have fun, I think you can glue three pegs onto a brick wall and call it good. Or maybe not.
Thanks, Elephant's Child. You're right, of course, about Paper Chipmunk (aka Ellen). And what I have seen of Karen's beautiful photographs and poems is lovely indeed. I'll poke around more on her blogs to discover the cards. I'm sure they are just as beautiful as I'm imagining.
DeleteI do hope I didn't offend anyone with my post about Ugh. Not in the "offending one's sensibilities way" (although that's a distinct possibility), but in the "I should be grateful for what I can do" way. I should be, and I am. It just helps to remember that now and then.
Heavens... ! First time I think I've ever been part of a blog thread I hadn't even commented on. Thanks. I think. ;-)
DeleteI actually don't think UGH is all that bad either. It definitely has potential. Personally, though, I think glitter is evil--but that's just because it gets all over everything and is almost impossible to remove from, say, a cloth book cover on a handmade book one has lent to a friend who stuck it next to something covered in glitter.... (not that I have a long memory and hold a grudge or anything).
Please do not give up! For everything that comes out acceptable, there are at least 10 things any self-respecting artist would prefer (at least in her own opinion) to burn. I also discovered long ago that, at least for me, every project worth doing tends to follow a certain trajectory.
In the beginning, it's just the greatest idea! It is so wonderful to get working on it!
This is then followed not long after by... good God! This is the biggest piece of grotesque @#$%!! What was I thinking?! This is impossible! UGHHHH!!!
Then as more work progresses, it's good again! Maybe.
Etc.
With time, I came to realize that the "it's s-h-i-t phase" is simply a part of the creative cycle. Very often, the things I've been happiest with in the end had some of the most stupefying and frustrating "it's s-h-i-t" phases of all. The key is to acknowledge it and keep working on it anyway, even when it seems hopeless. Sometimes, indeed, it is truly hopeless. But sometimes it isn't. Or maybe it's best to just put it aside for a while and see it with new eyes later. At any rate, enjoy the process. Even if it includes glitter. (Just keep the glitter away from my books.)
Very sound advice re: the creative cycle! And thanks for saying "Ugh" has potential (in spite of the offending glitter!). The glitter, sadly, is piled on too thickly for a scrape-off.
DeleteI am sorry about your book but glad to know you don't hold a grudge. Me either. And, if by some strange chance, I DO remember, I NEVER, EVER bring it up multiple times, e.g., "Hey, remember the time when we played the game 'True Colors' and you said you'd rather have Jenny for a sister than me?" I'm not even a little bitter as I remember it now, some 20 years later.
Where was I? I got a little sidetracked by my, er, completely fake example of a nonexistent grudge. Oh, yeah, thanks for the encouragement on my crafty projects. I'm following so many talented bloggers (e.g., you), and it's very inspiring. Of course, it's a process, and I can't expect to be amazing right off the bat. I'll keep at it and hope for fewer s-h-i-t-t-y results...
Always make mistakes. The best stuff comes from mistakes. Seriously--it sounds like New Age B.S., but I can't count how many times I thought something was ruined, and the "fix" turned out to be far better than the original plan. And, hell, even if it is still s-h-i-t, it was a learning experience.
DeleteYeah... I'm glad you don't hold grudges either. Heh.
Um, hello, no I DON'T remember & as you are my ONLY sister, I must be the villian you are falsely pointing at in the "I want Jenny to be my sister, not you" example. WTH? Make up a fake example that does not involve someone who reads your blog next time, girl! (or did it really happen & I just DO NOT REMEMBER?). Hmmm...maybe I DO want Jenny to be my sister, then I'd have that cute lil niece & nephew! Ha HA! MK
ReplyDeleteThat's because you weren't there! Not a villain...this time :)
ReplyDelete