Category — Small is Beautiful
Small is Beautiful Saturdays
I love illustrated journals. In fact, I have several books on my studio shelves about “how to” make illustrated journals. However, I have never actually made an illustrated journal. I find myself thinking, “Oh, I’ll make that when I learn to use acrylics properly.” Or, “I’ll start that when I know how many pages I want for each color/theme/idea.” Or, “I’ll do that when I’ve learned how to draw.”
The reality is we’ll always have something else to learn, some new idea to add to the order, or a new technique to master. If we wait until we “have it all together” before we start, we’ll never manage to get there. It’s like Lillithmother said in last week’s Small-is-Beautiful comments:
“ ….I have been struggling for a week to think small instead of big … I have creative projects in my head that I want out right away, already finished…without having to do all the small crappy stuff to get it to the point that my inner-perfectionist says it’s okay to do so. I struggle with the preparation…the practising…the research…because I now see that I’m getting so ahead of myself! I don’t have to make these projects to sell on Etsy (just yet)….I don’t have to add the frills…I can go simple….I can go small, and receive the same satisfaction…and offer the same gift of love and beauty….”
Lillith helped me remember that the small and the simple are often things of great satisfaction. We can all give each other the tiny shove that it sometimes takes to get us to lay our hand to the next small step in our unfolding worlds. For instance….
When we were on vacation last week I wanted to keep a journal to commemorate our trip. I had brought spiral bound blank books for the kids to paint and write in each night, but had neglected to get anything for myself. All I had with me was some drawing paper, my embroidery thread, and some very basic art supplies in my portable art box. (Some markers, a pencil, a stencil, and some thin-tipped sharpies.) I didn’t let my lack of the “perfect” supplies, or even my lack of a blank book keep me from making this small memory keeper:
I’m especially happy with this simple page.
I took a drawing class last year and rapidly learned that sketching is not my forte. But like Lillith’s reminder to “go simple,” my drawing teacher had a common refrain that has helped me to keep trying. His turn of phrase was, “That’s great! That’s totally recognizable!” Even though these quick pen strokes are far from being the pelicans I saw in my minds eye, they are clear enough to capture the memory. I’m glad I was brave enough to let my small attempts at drawing catch something beautiful.
What small thing have you ventured into lately that has helped you capture something beautiful?
Small is Beautiful Saturdays
Last weekend in the tiny world of the Pacific Northwest, two like-minded spiritual mamma’s met. Shari MacDonald Strong and I first fell in love during Paul’s PAF days where we both got all up in arms over unjust crap that was going on in our region. Since then we’ve been nurturing a soul sister romance over the internet, stalking each other’s blogs, and longing to meet each other IRL. After several aborted attempts to hook up — one which included a raging round of the stomach flu on a northwest island — we finally gathered our clans together and took all five kids out to eat at Portland’s family-friendly Old Wives’ Tale restaurant. Over two spilled glasses of water (the twins) and fifteen trips to the salad bar (our girls), Shari and her husband Craig told us about all their small but beautiful projects.
Craig has done one of those miraculous things and launched a successful small business, LensBaby, which makes specialized camera lenses for print photographers. Shari is nurturing spiritual-seeking parents over at Literary Mamawith her regular column Zen and the Art of Child Maintenance. She also has a great little self-titled blog where she writes wonderfully about editing, parenting, and recovering from evangelical Christianity (all favorite topics of my very own.) Stop by one of their sites this week and tell them thanks for believing that small is beautiful!
And now for a Small is Beautiful Update: Jen and I are still working on the art for the SIB button. We’re also continuing to collect web addresses for small sites that would like to be featured in a Small is Beautiful Saturday write up. You can put your name in the hat by emailing your website address to moi at magpie dash girl dot com. In upcoming weeks we’ll also be featuring pdf downloads of small but beautiful gifties, micro give aways, and fun collaborative projects to inspire and delight. Keep watching this site on Saturdays!
Much love,
Rachelle
Small is Beautiful Saturdays
It’s official, Saturdays are now for Small is Beautiful bloggers. Eventually, we’ll have a lovely little tag set up for you wear loud and proud, along with a collection of articles and dowloadable inspirations for small bloggers. But until we get it all set up let’s start, well, small, shall we?
Today I’d like to introduce a Small is Beautiful featured blogger, Jen M. Jen blogs about faith, life, and acting — including stories from her sometimes-stint on reality tv show Little People Big World. Jen is also launching a small scale design business and did my BlogHer 07 business card, which distributed with ridiculous profeciency.
It’s
Need wedding invitations? Baby announcements? Some nice personalized postcards? You can find Jen M here.
Want to be featured as a Small is Beautiful blogger? Email me and I’ll put your name in the hat: moi at magpie dash girl dot com.
BlogHer 07, Still Downloading
I am absolutely spinning from the brain dump of ideas that came from attending BlogHer 07. Paul and I have both had major epiphanies about our career paths because of the conferences. I can’t quite write about them yet, but I’d like as soon as they percolate a little bit.
One of the things I heard a lot about at the conference was in regards to “Art” and “Crafts” and how we use that terminology. What (or who) determines what (or who) gets the “art” designation and what (or who) gets the “crafts” tag? When I asked the Arts and Crafts panel that question Amy Sedaris was pretty sure that if you wanted to be an artist you probably need to be an alcoholic. If you’re sober most of the time you should probably just stick to googly eyes and be done with it. This confirms the suspicion her brother David had already planted in my soul — that if I want to be an artist I really should acquire some sort of life-threatening addiction. (Got any suggestions?)
I’m hoping to interview some art and craft bloggers about the art/craft dichotomy in the upcoming weeks. In fact, I met so many great women writer/artists that I know I’ll be highlighting them for days to come. Watch for interviews, tiny give-aways, and lots of referrals to worth-your-time blogs and worth-your-dollar products. In the meantime, here’s a vintage post from my old site that touches on the art-or-craft topic. May it bring you the kind of inspiration that spawns bravery, action, and artful living.
yours,
rachelle
Broken For You
Posted in Rites & Rituals, Priestess-y things, SFD & Arty Stuff | May 31st, 2005 at 9:25 pm
In the The Secret Life of Bees there is a character who has a unique affliction. She cannot decipher which sorrows are hers to carry and which are for others to bear. So whatever she hears, whatever sad tale she is told, it strikes her with its full grief and terror. Her sisters, good shepherds all, give her a way to express and reign in her sorrow. They help her build her very own wailing wall. With each fresh pain they add a stone, and the afflicted one is allowed to sit and sob, to write her sad tales on small scraps of paper and slip them in the hallows between the rocks. Soon the wall encircles their yard, and while it is not a foolproof system, while it does not protect her from grief, it gives her a way to live.
Being both Jew-ish and pagan-y, I have been captured by this ritual, this concretizing of sad things. [Read more →]
Remedies for the Small Blogger Blues
For those of you who attended the BlogHer session “Its not your size, it’s your passion that matters” I did today with Jen Lemen and Krystyn Heide, here’s some ideas for dealing with the Small Bloggers Blues
- Take a break from your site meter
- Redefine success for yourself. List all things your blog does for you (fosters gratitude in your life, helps you hone your craft, organizes your thoughts…)
- Write yourself an affirmation. I like this one: “My story matters.”
- Reach out to another small blogger. Take this feeling that you have about being discouraged or not “not mattering” and take it as a cue that you need to reach out to others who are feeling the same
- Join the SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL google group. (I’ll link to it when it is available.)
- Follow an comment you like back to the commenter’s blog you’ll probably find an inspirational read from someone who shares your values.
- Tag your posts with your name (or nom de plume) and your blog name so like minded souls can find you.
- Remind yourself that you are writing for an audience of one. Make yourself a sticker that says “I heart authenticity.”
It’s Your Passion Not Your Size that Matters
Here’s a special shout out to all you readers who are at BlogHer 07 today….If any of y’all are planning on attending our 2:45 session, “It’s Your Passion Not Your Size that Matters,” here’s your chance to get a word in early. What are you hoping to get out of that session? Any questions you’d like to ask in advance? My comments are open to you….
Everything I Needed to Know I Learned from Eric Carle
Yesterday Paul, Rebbecca, the kids and I drove an hour to the Tacoma Art Musuem to see a special exhibit of collages by Eric Carle, children’s illustrator and author. Carle’s most well known book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Carle, now 78 years old, comes across as being the Mr. Rodgers of the world of children’s illustrations. His gentle manner of speaking and streamlined, basic explainations of his artistic process belies many years of paitently interacting with children. Though he could easily have walked a filmaker through his cabniet of awards, a video at the exhibits shows Carle holding up page after page of paintings done by the pre-K to K set of child artist. At one point he says, “Oh! Look at this one! This one really taught me something!”
I took a lot way from the simple, colorful images and the kind words of their creators. In honor of the Creator of the Caterpillar, here’s my list of
Everything I Need to Know About Art I Learned From Eric Carle
Simple materials and techniques can go a long way. Cut, Color, and paste. It’s so easy Carle can explain the whole process with a few powerpoint-style slides. Paul encouraged me greatly when he walked me across the gallery to show me a few line drawings Carle had used as the template for one of his newest books, 10 Little Rubber Ducks. They were no more accomplished than my own new attempts at drawing, yet they were the first step for some lovely art.
Gimmicks can be wonder-full. Many of Carle’s books have a gimmick — the hole in Caterpillar, flashing lights in The Very Lonely Firefly, the creeking sound of The Very Clumsy Click Beetle. As Carle recounts the hisotry of his works, he blantanly and joyfully talks about searching for the next gimmick. He asserts that often there is nothing wrong with being gimmicky, provided that the gimmick is not a selling ‘hook’ but a means of inducing wonder.
Share your techniques. Carle gives his ‘trade secrets’ away gleefully, in You Can Make a Collage collage kit for kids, in his inclusive The Art of Eric Carle catalog of works, and through videos.
Follow your Bliss. Carle was a trained fine artist from the prestigous Akademie der bildenden Künste, in Stuttgart, but what really “made” his career was his love of paste and colors.
Ideas may take a long time to come together. Carle once had an idea that he chewed on for 15 years before it made it into a book. (I think it was for Draw Me a Star.) Be Patient.
