My New Existence

I realized I have lived in my new existence since mid-summer and I haven't blogged about it yet.  You know about moving, don't you?  Saying good-bye to the old with a lot of work and effort, and saying hello to the new and hoping it doesn't overwhelm you with all that work right after all that work at the old place.

Remembering to breathe...that's the important part.  Breathe in, breathe out.  I'm famous for forgetting that bit.  I always think I'm going to get a million things done, then I settle down with my to-do list, forget half the things that should be written on it, and am exhausted before I get half-way done with the things that made it on the page.  That's only a quarter of what I imagined I'd get done.  And then I added moving to that!

The experience is mixed.  We did a lot of things wrong, and a lot of things right.  We found things we hadn't seen in years, and lost things we use everyday.  We pushed our five-year-old to be patient during the moving process as his usual summer activities gave way to frantic packing, but we also made sure he had love and encouragement, and excitement for a new place and new experiences.

We moved to the city.  A city I LOVE.  Minneapolis.  Breathing became easier just knowing how close I now am to places I adore.  We now have half the drive to the grandparents' house and church, no drive to Minnehaha Falls or Bren's cousin's house.  We can take the LRT (train) or bus to most of the places we want here in the city.  We have our pick of farmer's markets for the summer, ice rinks in the winter.  While we now live further away from the few friends we made in Elk River, we are much closer to many friends we've missed dearly.  I've been dizzily planning all the places I want to go...and for once getting there.

Minnehaha Falls, early July 2011

At the same time, however, we now live in a condo and I'm having to adjust to less space as I finally start considering my art my job that must be done.  I can't afford a studio yet, so it's a struggle to find space for living and working at the same time...but it's a struggle of love.  

I have a feeling that with this new existence, I will have a studio soon.  I'm full of creative energy and can accomplish anything I put my mind to, because I've given myself a new attitude and new opportunities.  I have plans, and dreams, and...

Okay, just breathe.

Half the Rainbow

I love autumn...even more now that I live across the street from Minnehaha Falls Park. Recently my family and I have been enjoying the splendor of the colors as our hemisphere turns away from the sun and strips the leaves of their chlorophyll. My son and husband enjoyed themselves running through the leaves that had already fallen from the trees, making loud crunching sounds and scaring the wildlife away. All the splendor of half the rainbow; every hue of red, orange, and yellow, combine to light the landscape on fire.

My creative juices are flowing. I've designed more in the last couple of weeks then I have all year, I think. Here are some results of my autumnal muse at work:

Here is a digital file. I made the background in photoshop and them imported it into Creative Memories StoryBook Creator and added page elements from their files, blending them with the background.

This piece was made by folding paper and cutting the design out very carefully with an exacto knife. The perfect symbol of autumn; pumpkins!

Here is another cut-out of oak leaves and acorns in beautiful fall colors, just like outside.

An autumn greeting card made with Creative Memories papers and stickers, set on Canson blank cards.

Another autumn greeting card made with Creative Memories papers and stickers, set on Canson blank cards.

I think this is all that will fit in this post, but there is more to come soon!