Dare to be outrageous

More from my altered book of me from Tam’s class.  When I started this book, I went through my parents old photo albums looking for pictures to copy and use.  I came across this one of me and my decorated, tin foil covered bike.  I remember decorating the bike and riding it in a parade in the small town we lived in at the time.  I was so proud of how we spiffed up the bike!  I get to decorate up my bike doing crazy things twice a year now as part of the route safety teams for 2 of the 3-Day for the Cure Breast Cancer Walks.  We decorate as pirates in Cleveland and I have a magical pink treasure chest I strap on the back along with a pirate flag, decorated bras and whatever else catches my eye.  In Michigan we are the Pink Panthers and my bike gets decorated with as many Pinkies as I can attach (and of course includes a few bras too!).  I even made a pink panther bike helmet cover and a pink panther bra that I wore this year!  It is fun to see the walkers perk up and laugh as they discover all the things on my bike.  Sometimes that one little smile can change the course of their day and that is worth pedaling around all the extra weight of the decorations.

This spread is all about embracing the unusual and loving it.  One of the quotes I have on there says “Life isn’t about finding yourself.  Life is about creating yourself.”  I believe it is a quote from George Bernard Shaw.  I love this as it reminds me that we can go beyond what seems like our limits and really do anything that we set out to do.  It goes right along with the feelings of the last post on not letting others decide what you can or should be.  I choose to be unusual, remarkable in my own way and no one else will ever be the exact same.  Isn’t that amazing?  We are all one of a kind and bring so many special qualities to this world.  We are all irreplaceable and that is incredible!  So I challenge each of you to do something you’ve always wanted to do, but were held back from for some reason.  Be outrageous and enjoy every moment of it!

Talent

This page is from my Altered Book of Me that I’ve been sharing.  Again, I want to thank Tam for providing such an awesome class for free!  I may be slow in getting through the projects, but they have all been wonderful to work on. 

This spread is all about using my talents.  I was a very shy child.  It was hard for me to make friends because of this.  I loved music because I could express myself without stumbling over words or feeling awkward.  When I sat down at the piano, my insecurities lessened and I let the music absorb my overthinking mind and just let my emotions flow out of me in the music I played.  Having that form of expression available to me growing up really helped me cope through troubling times.  I still use playing as a sort of therapy.  If something is troubling me I can sit down and play.  Sometimes I play notes off of the page and just get absorbed into the feelings that the music seems to project.  A lot of the time now, I’ll just sit down and make up things.  I think this impromptu creating of my own music has been the most amazing way to express emotions that I cant seem to voice any other way. 

I also have loved to draw since I was very little.  I grew up being the “musical” one and my brother was the “artist”.  It kinda pisses me off that we were labeled as such because I think it limited both of us.  I didn’t fully embraced my artist side until well into my 30’s.  That’s a lot of years that I could have used to further develop my skills.  I also could have used art as another form of self-expression and self-discovery that would have been quite useful in my teens and twenties.  I let someone else’s idea of who I was shape what I did.  Thankfully, I have grown into some self confidence, and lots of stubborness, so I will never again let someone else’s ideas limit me from who I really am.  It seems as time passes I let what others think of me impact me less and less.  Its a very freeing aspect of aging that no one ever tells you about.  I may not enjoy my body growing older and developing aches and wrinkles, but I love that at this age, I can do what I want without worries that others will think I’m crazy, or weird.  I am a little weird and crazy and I love who I am. 

So, that’s how I use my talents.  I express myself in a way that I’ve never been able to with spoken or written words.  It soothes me and allows me an outlet for my over emotional self.  How do you use your talents?

Altered Book music spread

I’m still sharing from my altered book of me.  This spread represents the powerful role that music has in my life.  I started playing the piano when I was 7 or 8 years old.  I had been begging for lessons for about 2 years prior to being allowed to start.  I fell in love with the piano.  The touch, the sound, the possibilities, all of it.  It opened up a whole new way for me to express myself.  I have played, and still play many instruments but the piano is the biggest love.  I love that I can sit down and play and make my troubles lesson.  I can play music that I adore and put my own spin on it through my performance.  I can make up my own songs and express my innermost thoughts without worrying about using the proper words.  Its an amazing outlet for me and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

This spread celebrates my family and all the laughter and fun we had growing up together.  We didn’t always get along, that whole sibling rivalry thing often reared its head, but overall it was a fun way to grow up.  My brother and sister are very close in age to me, there’s just 3 years separating all of us.  We were often into playing the same things and it was rare to not have someone to do something with.  The harder thing was to find some privacy when it was needed! 

Music and family both had huge impacts on forming who I am today so I wanted to celebrate each of them with spreads in the “Book of Me.”  So, what has impacted you in your life?

Dream Big

It’s a bright and cheerful morning here although still cold.  We’ve been having some beautiful pink sunrises that I really need to get out and capture with the camera. 

It has been a very busy week here.  Monday’s appt. lasted over 3 hours, Tuesday I had an allergy scratch test that lasted about 1 1/2 hours and then went to visit my Grandma at the nursing home.  She wasn’t in her room and when I asked where she was found out she had been sent to the hospital.  She is ok, but I spent a portion of my afternoon sitting with her there.  I’m hoping to stay away from any more doctors offices or hospitals for a good long time!

Today I’d like to share a bit more of my Altered Book of Me.  Again, thanks to Tam for giving away the Art, Heart & Healing class.  I’ve gotten a lot out of the class and have really enjoyed the projects.  This spread was all about not giving up on your dreams, and enjoying all the steps that might be involved with reaching some of your dreams.  I feel that you really can reach your dreams, no matter how big, but they often require a lot more work than one would expect.  I think its important to take pleasure not just in the attainment of your goals, but in all the hard work that helps you meet them.  Think of all the things you’ve learned along the way to each goal.  Its usually much more rewarding and involved than you would have initially thought and the lessons you learn along the way are just as priceless as the satisfaction of reaching the goal itself. 

Most of all its important to believe in yourself and give value your dreams.  Fight for what you believe in.  If you don’t fight for what you want, no one else will.  Be strong, be happy, be you.

More altered book of Me

This is the second spread in my altered book made for the Art, Heart & Healing class.  As you can see I had a terrible time with doing transfers.  I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.  These are “fuzzy” and I left them at this stage because they were starting to rub completely off the page.  I don’t really mind the rough effect of them, but would like to be able to figure out how to do the process properly.  Guess I’ll play with that technique some more.

For my third spread I didn’t use any photo’s.  I simply painted a girl with her mother and talked about unconditional love.  Every child should feel support and love from her home.  I was fortunate to grow up in a loving family.  That doesn’t mean things were perfect, but I knew my parents were there when I needed them. 

We are having yet more winter weather today.  Everything is closed and I’ll be calling to reschedule the appointments I had for the day.  I have everything I need for the painting I want to start today and I’ll be moving down to the art palace to get started after enjoying a little more coffee.  My hubby called and made it to his office safely so I’m free from worry til he calls to say he’s on his way home.  I’m hoping for a productive, enjoyable day.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  Happy Friday!

Altered book spread “advice”

As promised, I’m showing more of the pages from my altered book of me, made as part of the Art, Heart and Healing class done by Willow.

This page spread is full of advice and positive comments that I think every child needs to hear repeatedly.  I didn’t grow up with a lot of confidence and felt awkward in my body so I focused on sentiments that would help ease those pains.

    I still struggle with body image on a daily basis.  I was underweight until after I was married.  So that is the norm that I associate with my body.  After settling into our married routine, I gained and was in a “normal” weight zone, but I felt fat.  Its stupid, ,I know, but that is how I felt.  A few years at this weight and I had a major stress with my dad getting very ill, very suddenly and some food allergies/intolerances that I now realize I had had all my life, kicked into overdrive and I got sick.  I couldn’t eat anything without spending hours in the bathroom.  I spent about 2 years eating very little and going to many specialists who couldn’t help me.  I was back to “underweight” but very sick most of every day.

I finally tried a natural treatment that combines energy medicine with accupressure and got my reactions to food back to a manageable level.  That meant that I could once again eat foods I loved and not get sick.  And that is just what I did.  I ate.  Everything.  And I gained lots of weight and actually tipped out at an “obese” (don’t you just love the terms for weight) level.  I have to say that I enjoyed every bite that got me there.  It was wonderful to eat and rarely get sick and I took pleasure in tasting things I hadn’t been able to have for a long time.

Of course, I did not take pleasure in my body.  It led to my depression flaring and lots of self-worth issues.  It was a very rough time where it seemed my only pleasure was in eating (kinda a double edged sword huh?).  I stayed at this extra large size for about 2-3 years.  Then I took action.

I worked hard.  I did daily workouts (many times 2 a day), and I ate very carefully.  The weight came off and I returned to the “normal” weight zone (which I still sometimes feel fat in) and have remained there for the past 5 years.  Most days my body image is ok now, but their are days I look in the mirror and see all the faults instead of the strong able body that I have.  I am still a work in progress.

I know many women struggle with body image and I wish that our society would lend itself to celebrating the diversity of our bodies instead of idealizing those few and far between perfect ones.  So, my spread focuses on the words that I wish I had heard more growing up (I did hear them, but I think every little girl should be able to hear them ALL the time).  I try to say these things to my nieces so that they hopefully they can celebrate their individuality rather than struggle with it.  And I try to be a positive, healthy role model for my students.  I celebrate their uniqueness with them and I hope they grow into strong, beautiful women.

So, dear readers if you’ve made it this far in my lengthy post I hope you’ll respond with compassion.  I’ve bared a part of me that is raw.  I’m hoping that by doing so I’ll reach a better level of acceptance of my body and be stronger overall.  Thanks.

Altered book of Me

I’ve slowly been working through the projects from Willow’s awesome Art, Heart, and Healing class from last fall.  (You can see my empathy monsters here.)  I finished my altered board book over the weekend.  This was a great project for me.  I was able to come to terms with some things from my childhood that sometimes still bothered me.  I was able to do this in a loving, constructive, and unforced manner and I feel good better about these things now.  I’m sure they’ll reappear when life gets to me, but I think I’ve found a way to deal with them in a more positive manner now.  That should allow me to get through these feelings to a more positive place when they do bother me.

The photo I scratched up and used for the cover of my book was taken by my hubby on our last trip to Key West.  He had run something back to the car while I waited at the bar and he tried to sneak taking some pictures but I turned and spotted him.  I was so relaxed and happy and just living in the moment when that was taken.  I want to live in the moment more often and I hope seeing this picture will remind me to do that.

I’ll share more of the book in the coming days.  We’re still covered in ice here with all the schools on their 3rd day of closings.  That means that I haven’t been teaching either.  A forced break.  Good for catching up on some things that needed to be done, but bad for the pocketbook.  I know what I want to work on today, just trying to find the one thing necessary to execute my plan.  I’m not sure I have it in the house.  I’m hoping I do so I can get moving on this fun project.   I hope all of you have time today to play.  Thanks for stopping by.

Toilet Pater Tube Art

I cant remember where I saw someone making these cute journals/art pieces, but I know I wanted to make one as soon as I saw them.  I actually started hoarding our empty toilet paper rolls and for the first time in our marriage I was thankful that my hubby seldom throws the empty tube away!

This piece is not a journal-although I have 2 of those in the works-its just a little pretty with an inspirational quote tucked inside.  I started making it with the intention of mailing it off to someone.  I don’t know who I’ll mail it to, but I’m sure that will fall into place when the time is right.

                                                                                                    It was fun to play with paper and glue again.  I found it kinda soothing to sit and pick out coordinating papers and then the ribbons to trim it out with.  I always love adding the embellishing fibers and the cute little charms and sparklies at the end!  Its like the finishing touch and then I can sit back and smile.  As I’m typing this I’ve thought of one more thing I want to do to this piece.  I’m going to go back and take an ink pad to the edges of the tag and create a border.  Its just to white and plain right now. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a lovely weekend!

Running Love

What kind of dreams do you hold deep down inside? About 3 years ago my hubby and I started doing the Body for Life diet/exercise program. We both lost weight and built muscle by doing the program in its initial time frame-I think it was a 3 month thing. Anyways, after we finished doing those months, I tapered off and eventually went back to my old ways. (I can tell you this now because since then, I have lost the weight and I now exercise regularly and have stayed within my weight "range" for 2 years now.) My hubby however, never stopped exercising and eating well. He started running races. We both did a 5K on Labor day of 2005. It was the first race either of us had ever attempted. He ran it, I walked the majority of it. He tried his first duathalon later that fall (Run 5K, Bike 10K, Run 5K), and has since finished many 5Ks (which I now can run the whole thing), 10Ks, half-marathons, duathalons, triathalons, and his first full marathon. He is truly an inspiration to see progress with better times and longer distances. For valentines day I made him this race record altered book. It is divided into sections for each type of race and I've written in date, race name, and finishing time. Its made on industrial (carpet?) tags I found at a garage sale and "had" to have. By using the tags, I can easily expand the pages as necessary. I used acrylic paints and mulberry paper to embellish it, but not my typical glitter as he just wouldn't of appreciated that. On the reverse of each tag I included a quote about strength, commitment, and other values I see in him. This is one of my favorite things I've done in awhile and watching him open it was so rewarding.

So, what are your dreams and what are you doing to reach them? Nothing is impossible with the right amount of patience and practice. Go for it.