Being creative

Well, I am trying to keep up my creativity. As well as the 2 objects below I have also started an altered book plus I am trying to complete all the cross-stitch patterns I have accumulated over the years.

The altered/journal book is way to trying to find out where I am creatively. I have seen examples of these books on various blogs and I must admit I am really drawn to them as they seem to address one of the problems I have with working - enjoying the progress. I think I still have a long way to go.

The theme of the book will be me (of course) and the images?/art that I am looking at currently. I will paste/ collage the images and try to find the elements that seem to resonate with me. It should be an interesting journey.

I have made a good start by doing something I thought would never do, destroy a printed book. Its a really old book which I got in my mid 20's on Van Gogh. It's not a great book as it one of those generic art life books but I was still loath to purposely destroy a book to create another. However, I thought it would be a good base to start with as I love Van Gogh's work and I suspect he would approve of altered books himself.

Above, is the doll I have been working at for a considerable time on and off. To be honest I was working in the dark with this project and the reason I started it was because I just love dolls. I have no real sewing skills, not that it really need any and I don't have the patience to be ultra careful which I learnt you really need in a project like this. The whole thing is rough which is ok as its meant to be naive but really I do need to learn to careful with the sanding, painting and sealing, all of which failed in varying degrees with this project.

The ATC above, was me, trying to use what I have in my little laundry/art room and becoming too fussy, overblown and basically a mess but its a start. I actually made it for my Sister Debra as it was her birthday yesterday. In the past year, like most sisters we have had a few disagreements but it doesn't take away my love for her. I'm amazed by all my sisters, they are all such hard working individuals and here's me...a lazy so and so who sits at the PC everyday moaning about life and expecting sympathy....get a grip girl...you're going soft in yer ole ahge.

So as I said about the altered book, I really need to just get down and enjoy myself just like I use to tell my elderly art therapy clients in Dunfermline when I was a student.

The search is on for my INNER CHILD

My eldest daughter's poetry page

http://cautionary-tale.livejournal.com/ She would love you read and comment

another day and new post

Not much to report here. Had my biopsy on tuesday and it was weird to see a lump of my flesh in a specimen jar. I must admit I was quite surprised at how big the cut was but having read all the info on Biospy options, it seems thats a good thing as it means the Doctor removed all the mole and any possible margins. I anxious to get the results but not freaking out about it as seems very unlikely to be anything serious as its an existing mole. Apparently new moles once you are over the age of 20 are more likely to be cancerous and even then if you watch for them, remove them early, you will be ok.

I really should be use to all these tests by now. God, if you were to go on the number of tests I have had in last 30 yrs I should be dead, if not dying. I think I am just one of those people whose body decides to give out misleading clues. If you went over my medical files I am sure you would find that almost all my internal organs have been tested for something or other, no wonder I am a hypochondriac.

I would like to say that I never went in complaining of this that or the other, it was usually based on some other routine test.

In the 90's I started to go to Perth Hospital on regular basis for my diabetes which has never required medication, just diet. The urine test is routine and every time I went I had blood in it. I forget the number of tests I went through for that! Then when I was in my mid 20's I had an eye infection that didn't clear up for 6 months. Again endless number of tests which seemed to have very little to do with the eye in question! So there is no point in worrying because given my history, there is nothing to worry about.

Talking of test, seems my little doggie has a possible problem with his liver function. Hopefully its just dehydration as he not a great drinker but he will have more tests next week.

For your jollification, another ATC which I created a few nights ago. I am still doing another but thats not quite ready to view yet. Almost finished the doll I was making as well.