I Don't Know

There is a mysterious, unknown entity that lives in practically every home. It’s called ‘I Don’t Know’. I have never actually seen this elusive creature but I’m certain it is somewhere in my house. And it gets blamed for all manner of offenses or I’m directed to it for my answers.

‘Who broke my favourite mug?’ ‘I don’t know.’

‘Where are my slippers?’ ‘I don’t know.’

‘Do I need to pick up toilet paper this week?’ ‘I don’t know.’

‘Where is the small orange plate?’ ‘I don’t know.’

‘Who ate all my yoghurt?’ ‘I don’t know.’

If anyone ever finds this bothersome entity, please give him/her a kick in the butt for me. And tell them to stop breaking my stuff, stop eating my food, start answering my questions when asked and to stop hiding things from me. Thank you.

Hooked on Paper Pads

Over the years, I have accumulated quite a few patterned scrapbook paper pads. Alright, full disclosure here, ‘quite a few’ is a bit of an understatement. They come in various sizes, 6” X 6”, 6” X 8”, 8” X 8” and 12” X 12”. The bulk of what I have are the 12” X 12” size.

I keep telling myself not to purchase any new ones. I have so many, for every holiday or season of the year that I do not ‘need’ more. What I have will keep me crafting for years to come. However, I seem to get pulled in by the buy one/get one free and the post-holiday clearance sales.

Every once in a while, the dollar store has name brand, good quality paper pads for sale and the prices are phenomenal. Last week, I found some fabulous 6” X 8” Christmas themed ones for $3 each. They had five of them. I got them all. Originally, in a scrapbook store they would have cost $13 to $15 each, give or take. What a great deal, how could I resist?

My plan is to make Christmas greeting cards to send to friends & family and the smaller paper pads are perfectly scaled for that. I did start making some last year but the postal strike right around the holiday season interfered with sending them. I will try again this year.

About 7-8 years ago the dollar store had a lot of Martha Stewart paper pads and stickers for Valentine’s Day. I purchased a substantial amount, I won’t deny it. I’ve used some of what I picked up but I’ll be honest, I have a lot left. I was into making pocket letters at the time and used it for those mostly.

I know as much as I keep telling myself NOT to buy more, I will likely buy more down the line. I’m hooked on paper pads and I don’t think there is a ‘cure’ for it.

New Swap Group

I recently joined a new ATC (Artist Trading Card) swap group on Facebook. I dropped out of the ones I used to belong to early this year. I even archived groups that I personally set up for swapping. There were a number of reasons for this.

First, although the groups had lots of members, it was the same few that were participating in the swaps every time. Don’t get me wrong, I love the art I received from them and they inspired me to expand my horizons. But I wanted to ‘meet’ new artists and swap with them.

Secondly, there was a lot of negativity in some of the groups that I found annoying, and unnecessary. We’re all adults here, let’s play nice. The art I/you create might not be something you/I like and that’s okay. But please don’t trash people for it. Constructive criticism is good and helpful but downright nastiness is demeaning and disheartening, especially for beginners. We all started somewhere and everyone needs to keep that in mind when critiquing the work of others.

Sometimes, I look back at the cards I made 10 years ago and cringe (see below). They were so simplistic and crude compared to what I create now. My art has evolved over the years as I expanded my knowledge, experimented with new materials and techniques, and practiced my craft. I also watched LOTS of YouTube tutorials and learned from other artists that I had the privilege of interacting with.

I’m really enjoying this new group so far and look forward to trading ATCs with many different artists. The six cards pictured at the top of this post are the first ones that I made to trade and they were spoken for quickly. And there is nothing better after those difficult days than receiving a constant stream of happy mail! It’s time to make some more this weekend to post next week. Let the fun continue.

Letting Go Of Things

I’m in the midst of trying to de-clutter my home. I’ve been at it for a while. It’s amazing, somewhat shocking actually, the amount of stuff I’ve accumulated over the years. A lot of things have been packed in boxes tucked away in closets or the downstairs storage room for more years than I can remember. Honestly, I don’t even know what is in some of those boxes anymore.

But when I open one of those boxes, I find it hard to let the contents go. Why is that? Part of the reason is sentimental, I think. Sometimes I recall the amount of money I originally spent on it and can’t bear the thought of simply putting it in a thrift store donation box or worse yet, tossing it out.

I’ve given a few things away to people who will enjoy and appreciate them but let’s be real here, not many people that we know want our old stuff. It simply is not their jam. I know it’s time to seriously ponder all of the options.

(1) Keep it all. (2) Give away to friends or family. (3) Donate to charity for them to sell. (4) Try to sell it myself on Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji or Craig’s List. (5) Organize a garage sale in the spring. (6) Throw it in the trash.

Let’s examine all the options, one by one. I could keep everything, bury my head in the sand and ignore the problem. Ultimately though, somebody down the line will have to deal with the disposition of it all. I don’t really like the thought of everything being tossed in a dumpster because they do not know what to do with it or just want it dealt with as quickly as possible.

There are some things that I can give to family, especially heirlooms passed down to me from other family members. Donating to charity is always an option so that maybe someone else will get to enjoy them as I once did. Throwing things out, unless they are broken or otherwise rendered useless, is off the table for me.

Trying to sell them online would take a lot of time and energy that I don’t have. The same goes for trying to run a garage sale. These options would take more work than I would likely gain in cash from the effort. So where does that leave me? I guess I have to stand up, put my big girl pants on and make the tough decisions required.

As things stand now, all of this stuff is weighing me down and sucking the life out of me. I know as hard as it will be to part with things, I know that I likely won’t miss them either. After all, they’ve been packed in boxes hidden away for years without a care or thought from me. Wish me luck with it!

Is The Grass Greener?

Why do other people’s lives or situations seem better than our own? Everyone has needs and desires. When our needs are met we then look to fulfilling our desires. And it's only natural for us to look at what we have and compare it with what someone else has. If we perceive they have it better, we wish we were in their position. Thus summarizes the phrase, ‘the grass always greener on the other side’.

But is it really greener on the other side? I suggest that it may not always be the case. Yet we still always covet that which we do not have. And it starts at a young age too. Is this some kind of instinct or behavior trait built into our DNA?

The feeling that other people have lives that are more impressive, fulfilling, or happy than our own can come and go throughout our lives depending on what's going on in our careers, relationships, and families, but it's definitely normal to feel it at some point. No matter how good you may have it, you still have a sense that others have it better, whether or not that's ever the case.

You may, however, be building something up in your imagination to be better than it really is. The grass isn't actually greener; you just believe or perceive that it is. I suggest you research the actions you are planning to take in case you've sugar coated them in your mind. What looks ‘better’ from the outside may be worse for you when acquired. Other people may be hiding the negative aspects of their situation and only putting their ‘best foot forward’ to the public. Be happy where you are, make changes if you can but make them for the right reasons to your benefit, not your detriment.

What is Art?

There was a post on an ATC group that I belong to this morning that really irked me. A new member posted the photo below with this comment…’I am not a real artist but I love to recycle and am enjoying making things with my many vintage playing cards.’

I came right back with my own comment…’ Excuse me for disagreeing with you, but you ARE an artist! If you create art (ARTIST Trading Cards) you are an artist. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.’

She came back with, ‘So sweet! You just made my day.’

To which I replied, ‘Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Keep up the good work!’

It upsets me imagining how many people around her have tried to discourage her and have told her that what she does, and enjoys doing, is not ‘real art’. I agree with the old saying, ‘If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all’.

It got me to thinking about what the meaning of ‘art’ is. What I found was that there's no universal definition of art, though a consensus has emerged that art is the conscious creation of something beautiful or meaningful using skill and imagination.

Yes, this lovely lady certainly accomplished that in my opinion. She used materials that may otherwise have gone to the trash or recycling bin and created art. That is not something that everyone can or will do. I applaud her for her efforts and for the courage to post about it on that group page in spite of what others were saying to her.

NOTE: The last two images are ATCs that I have made in the last year.

Trip to the Craft Store

There used to me a number of good craft stores in my area in years past. Who remembers Lewiscraft and White Rose?

Lewiscraft was a Canadian craft supply store chain that operated from 1913 until it closed in 2007. The store sold a variety of supplies for crafting. Lewiscraft Inc. was founded in Toronto to sell supplies needed to make leather accessories. An expansion in the 1970's pushed the retailer into a variety of other craft goods. Lewiscraft Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection at the beginning of 2006, and closed a number of stores before their fiscal year ended in April. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to stem the mounting losses and by 2007 the last stores were closed.

White Rose Crafts and Nursery Sales Ltd. was a chain of garden and craft stores in Ontario. Alexandre Raab, a French immigrant, founded White Rose in 1956 and opened his first White Rose location in 1957 on Hwy. 7 in Unionville. At its peak, the business had 42 stores across the province. Raab sold White Rose in 1991 when he retired. In 2002, White Rose Crafts and Nursery Sales Ltd. filed for bankruptcy. The business ceased operations in 2005.

Michael’s opened its first Canadian stores in Toronto in 1993. Michael's is an American based chain store that sells arts and crafts, framing, floral arrangements, and wall decor. In addition to a wide selection of arts & crafts and home decor products, Michael’s carries a range of seasonal products. The breadth of selection, price, quality of merchandise, availability of product, and customer service was above and beyond either Lewiscraft or White Rose.

I believe this is what ultimately led to the downfall of these Canadian retailers. In recent years, however, things have changed dramatically. More times than I can count, I've gone to Michael’s looking for something specific (that I know they used to carry) and left empty handed. And prices have skyrocketed on the products they do carry. It's very unfortunate and disappointing. I basically will only buy something there now with a coupon, and even then I know I'm paying too much. The after season clearance sale prices are not bad, but selection at the point is very minimal.

And today, once again, I could not find the ONE thing I was looking for and came home and ordered it from Amazon. I wonder why I even wasted my time going there.

Falling is a Bad Idea

In fact, falling is a REALLY bad idea especially at my age. Honestly, I do not recommend it to anyone, no matter how old or young you are. The repercussions down the road can be quite unpleasant. But that is exactly what I did this morning and I am suffering for not paying more attention to where I was walking.

So, as a reminder to myself, and as a warning to everyone else, I have compiled a list of suggestions to help you avoid falls.

• Get non-slip mats in the shower and tub. • Install grab bars in the shower or tub and by the toilet. • Install handrails on both sides of stairs. • Keep walkways and steps well lit. • Reduce clutter. Get rid of loose wires, cords and other obstacles. • Repair loose floorboards and carpet. Scatter mats are tripping hazards. • Store frequently used items in easy-to-reach locations. • Mop up spills immediately. • Use assistive devices like a cane or walker, if required. • Use a bath seat in the shower. • Wear rubber soled shoes on bare wood or tiled floors. • Have good lighting throughout the house and install nightlights.

Believe me when I say, falling is a bad idea. Take the necessary precautions to avoid it. You'll be glad you did.

Down Memory Lane

It was in November 1958 that it was first announced in the local newspaper that Woolworth was coming to town. (That’s the year that my parents and I moved into our house in Richmond Hill.) The modern and brand new Woolworth’s store that opened on Yonge Street just south of Centre Street in 1959 had just over 10,000 sq. ft. of space, and included a lunch counter with 30 stools.

This store was a significant fixture during my childhood because when I was old enough, my mother would allow me to go there on my own. That was only place in 'downtown' Richmond Hill I was able to go without one of my parents. You see, the Woolworth’s store, while having a storefront on Yonge Street, also had a back entrance from a quiet residential street. I would go with my brother or a friend and we could leave our bicycles in the back parking lot while we went up the stairs and into the store. We were not allowed on a ‘busy’ road like Yonge Street. Compared to the 1960s, traffic through town these days is a nightmare. We could never have imagined it at the time though.

Woolworth's eventually closed in Richmond Hill in the summer of 1971 but I still have fond memories of my excursions there.

Making Backgrounds

I love making backgrounds for my artist trading cards. I use a gel plate and acrylic paint, along with various mark making tools like bubble wrap. I recently watched a video on YouTube where an artist suggested thinking outside of the box when it comes to mark making tools. He told us to look at things you would normally throw out or put in your recycling bin that could make interesting designs on your backgrounds.

So that is exactly what I did today. I found a plastic tray the came with hamburger in it, another plastic tray that my gluten free bread is sold in and a couple of handles cut off of reusable shopping bags. Never before would it have occurred to me to use these items as mark making tools. And I wasn’t really looking that hard. I now have a new way of looking at things that would otherwise be discarded without a second thought.

Let’s be honest here, I don’t really ‘need’ any more backgrounds right now. There are about 100 in my binder all ready to go. I may, in fact, have to give away some of the backgrounds I have made to other artists to use. Mostly because I’m anxious to see how these new tools work but also so that I have a new selection to choose from when I am making my ATCs.

I only ended up using the bottom of the two plastic trays this time and I really did get some interesting results. As always, some turned out better than others. Some I don’t like at all but a friend reminded me that sometimes the backgrounds I think are ‘ugly’ turn out to be the best once die cuts and other embellishments are added. For better or worse, here they are…