Modern Sweets: Monday's Musings 7.30.12

Hi friends. Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

My sweet family helped me celebrate my birthday with lots of fun and even more birthday desserts which we are still enjoying. The girls are funny, too, because they keep asking if it is still my birthday and reminding B that it's "still mommy's belated birthday." Sure, I'll roll with that. You gals can go ahead and celebrate my birthday for as long as you want to.

Anyway, back to regular programming...

Yesterday was cloudy and iffy, threatening rain all day, so we headed to Michael's so we could stock up on art supplies. I am basically like a kid in a candy store when I get to Michael's (an expensive candy store considering how much I want to spend when we go!), so let's just say I had a great time. We have all sorts of projects planned for the rest of the summer, and I can't wait to start them with the girls and B. Tomorrow afternoon we may finally make our Jackson Pollock drip painting. L said she wants to wear nothing but undies, put on some music, and make the painting. Love it.

melted crayon artwork - L's is on the left and P's is on the right

L's three-dimensional flower painting

All of this art excitement around here has made me think about art and its effect on me, and I've realized that I am happiest when I am making art. Whether it is painting (watercolor is my medium of choice simply for lack of experience with other paints), pottery, or photography, when I am able to create something, anything on a regular basis, I am content. If I'm not working on some piece of art or thinking of my next piece or session I feel lethargic and somewhat empty. I know it sounds sort of melodramatic, but I get so much energy from being creative and artistic.

examples of my pottery:

I glazed almost everything in white and chun blue.

I was so proud of this mug and handle!

example of my iphoneography:

I love to have time to myself to take photographs, paint, or throw a pot on the wheel, but I also really do love doing all of these things with my girls. P absolutely adores the responsibility of having a camera in her hands, so I want to get her a little point and shoot that isn't a piece of junk like the toy cameras we have had in the past. And L could paint for what seems like hours. Just this morning the girls begged me to open the glitter glue, so I granted their request and let them go wild, having fun with such a simple little activity - glitter glue and paper. Afterwards, P turned to me and said "You know what, Mom? I do like art!" My heart was happy. Thank you, glitter glue.

So, the day after tomorrow, registration opens for a fall pottery class with a great teacher (my teacher in Richmond told me about him) not far from our apartment. I have been dragging my feet about committing to the class because it means I will have to make sure someone else can pick L up from school. I know that may not sound like a big deal at all, but I love picking my girls up from school - their faces when they see me, hearing about their day, sitting for a snack together while we chat...it's really a nice time of day. The pottery class is not offered at any other time, though. So, yes, I'm torn. I will be there to pick her up from school the other four days of the week, but I guess it's just hard for me to depend on and trust someone else to be there on time (not late!) so my sweet girl is not left waiting in the classroom when everyone else has been picked up. I have some issues, I know. But back to art...

I have to work to incorporate art into my everyday life, and I know that I need to make that a priority for myself and my sanity. I will try to come back to this topic again, over time, on this blog to show you what I've been up to. At the very least I know that I will be taking one photo every day as part of my 365 gratitude project. Baby steps.