13 Dec 2010
KaraPosted under Uncategorized
I loved the bliss project week – a ticket to free time to do whatever I want and not feel even a bit guilty about it. I loved even more the continued version of bliss – the one made of gingerbread, lots of sugar and candy. I’m pleased with the outcome. I worried a little bit about building it but it was quite easy. I used canned food to hold up walls while the icing dried and an aluminum foil jig made assembling the tricky hip roof a little easier. Baking the gingerbread and building the house felt like the prep work…decorating it was the fun part. It was pretty easy and very fun. I can see where this should be a part of my holiday every year. After all, what can a little more bliss hurt.
29 Nov 2010
KaraPosted under Uncategorized
The inspiration that Beth passed on to me in the round robin was two-fold. First, she is inspired when someone tells her that she can’t do something. It motivates her to prove them wrong. Second, she threw out a random on in case I didn’t want to do the first one: birds.
As I thought about this assignment I immediately knew that I am inspired when I’m told I can’t do something (strong willed was a square on my altered rubiks cube afterall). That inspiration motivates me to react and do. However, when a certain person tells me that I can’t do something it causes the opposite: I don’t react or do. That person is me. I can think of a few times when I tell myself that I can’t do something and I find another solution. So, I decided to react this time and do.
I’ve wanted a tree painted on my dining room wall. Not a mural or anything like that – just a simple whimsical tree. I thought about painting it but chickened out. After all, I’m no artist (just ask Julia…she was in a summer drawing class with me!). I looked several times online at vinyl art that I could use. I even asked around about local artists to do it for me.
So, I painted the wall. I painted the whimsical tree and even added a little surprise inspiration…the bird. I’m happy that I tried it and I’m happy with the results.
20 Nov 2010
KaraPosted under Uncategorized
I’m inspired by lots of things…nature, music, other people’s art, etc. If I’m honest I’m usually inspired by a the clock. I tend to do my best work when I’m up against a deadline. Another thing I’m inspired by is photos. I love having photos of those I love around me. It just makes me happy. So, that is what I selected for this project. The photo I picked is of our newest family member, Chip. We rescued him from a shelter about 2 months ago and he’s just the sweetest guy. I don’t know what I’d do specifically with this photo. This time of year I might use it to make a funky ornament for our Christmas tree to remind us of when we first fell in love with him.
Now, I don’t think Dara would have nearly as much fun from doing something with my family photo. So here’s her challenge – find your favorite photo to inspire you and work some magic.
10 Nov 2010
KaraPosted under Uncategorized
I enjoyed the trip to the Herron exibit. It was a nice change of pace and it featured one of my favorite mediums – paper. Lots of cool stuff can be made from tranforming paper. I liked being somewhat forced to stay in the exhibit. Normally, I would have taken a 1/2 hr or so to look around then would be on my way. Being in the forest really made me notice more details. It’s nice to slow down enough to notice all the details.
I liked all the notes left. It was interesting to read them. There were lots that were great and lots that were just full of ugliness. Spreading ugliness- what a waste of time and effort. There is enough ugliness that finds its way to us in life all on its own. Why help spread it?
03 Nov 2010
KaraPosted under Uncategorized
My initial reaction to the bliss assignment was relief. I have not been feeling well and didn’t think I was going to make it to class. So, I could rest on Monday and do the class when I was feeling better. I did it this afternoon. I LOVE time to just do whatever. I was talking to my sister over the weekend about trying to do a gingerbread house to enjoy over Christmas. We talk about doing it every year but there is never the time. I really wrote it off in my mind already this year with school, work, volunteer responsibilities, family things, etc. Then the bliss assignment gave me 3 hrs (actually, it gave me 5 hours because I didn’t have to drive an hour to class and an hour home). So, I used that rationale to soak up another couple hours of play time. I sat down with a stack of scrap cardboard, scissors, a metal ruler and an exacto knife with a fresh blade. I’m no architect but I created a cardboard replica of my house to use as templates to create a gingerbread house that looks like the one I love so much. I’d love to make that my final project (partly to ensure that I make the time to actually do it!). I could document the process as a behind the scenes. We’ll see what the final project parameters are – if there is a way that gingerbread creating fits, I’ll use the work I did today.
Fingers crossed.
01 Nov 2010
KaraPosted under Uncategorized
What is the package? Not really sure – seemed pretty random. It obviously has a purpose – a reason that the seemingly random pieces were married into one package. We’ll see why on Monday, I suppose.
I can imagine a few reasons for doing the project..to explore where our minds fill in the gaps when details are unknown. Do we automatically suspect evil? I can see doing the exercise to avoid the old adage of judging a book by its cover. It’s rarely a good idea to do so. Maybe the reason is to force us to create a reason for the peculiar things. All would be good for us, right?
26 Oct 2010
KaraPosted under Uncategorized
One phrase in class bugged me today. The idea that a portfolio, a job or even a career labels who we are. It isn’t who you are. It is what you do. It is only a small part. Who you are is so much bigger than that one little part if you let it be. I definitely will never let a job or my career define who I am. There is so much more.
Class was just okay to me today…some parts good and some parts very slow.
25 Oct 2010
KaraPosted under Uncategorized
You give me the option to do whatever I want and I guarantee that it will almost always involve me walking away from the computer. I stare at this box all day for work and way too many evenings for school (and is probably why my friends rarely see me on FB).
For this project I decided I would pull from our assignment of what is most important. I had a blank spot to fill on one wall of our living room so I printed some of my favorite photos of my family and did some paper crafting on a star. It always feels good to be creative and for me it is even better when it doesn’t involve my computer.
11 Oct 2010
KaraPosted under Uncategorized
I thought all week about the things that are most important to me…there are so many thing. Some are huge and some are small but so important. I thought I’d create a Top 10 list to represent them. All are important to me but I must be clear…none of the items on the list would work with out #1.
10. that feeling of satisfaction after working hard on something
9. down time to relax
8. a job that I love doing
7. my home with great neighbors
6. my community (including my church family)
5. my friends
4. my family…grandparents, sisters, nieces, nephews
3. my children, Michael and Jennifer
2. my husband, Mike
1. a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
I am happy to see that “stuff” didn’t make the list. No fabulous car, diamonds, etc. My home did but I don’t think of it so much as stuff (although the mortgage says it is!). Home for me is a sense of security for me but I guess it could be considered “stuff”. I hope others didn’t stuff as the important things…stuff rarely lasts.
05 Oct 2010
KaraPosted under Uncategorized
Major kudos to yesterday’s presentation of making ammends. It was the perfect example of overcoming fear to me. The emotion was a clear indicator that overcoming fear isn’t an easy thing. It does take lots of courage and it does require risk. I think that is the type of internal fear that Zach was referencing. The kind that runs so deep inside. That isn’t to discount the reality of external fears at all. It is my opinion of my fears. The internal ones to me are much stronger than externals ones. Just one girl’s opinion 
I hope that our future discussions can be handled with the respect and care that Beth spoke of in class. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and not a single person has the right to judge or critize. I’m thankful that I am able to believe what I chose to believe and I feel strongly that others should also have that right.
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