Sunday, April 27, 2014

CofC3-Finding a new way

Once again, Linda Ledbetter is hosting the Compendium of Curiosities 3 on her blog. The challenge, of course, is based on the book by Tim Holtz and you can purchase the book by clicking the link. We will have a sponsor for each challenge, which will last two weeks this go round. For the first challenge, we are sponsored by The Inspiration Emporium.  Linda also has some helpers giving their interpretation of the techniques and you can reach their blogs via the link to Linda's blog.  As with previous challenges, I cannot tell you how I accomplished the results. To find out how to do the different techniques, you need to click the Tim link and purchase your own book. Tim will even autograph it for you and Mr. BTS, Mario will get it shipped to you faster than lightning!

My title of Finding a New Way began last month when my father in law passed away on March 24, 3 days after celebrating his 82nd birthday. And our journey changed yet again this past Thursday when my mother in law passed away one month to the day of dad's passing. She was only 2 weeks shy of her 90th birthday. So to say we've had some upheaval in our lives this past month is an understatement. We are getting through it. It's what mom and dad would have wanted. And they are together again. As John put it on Friday,  after almost 58 years of marriage, dad had a month without mom. Hope he had a good time because now he's got her for Eternity!

As is usually the case when I start a project, I don't have a goal in mind. I go where the project takes me. I love the Classic stamps that SA brought back a few years ago and Number 5 with the different eyes has always intrigued me. So I stamped the eye of the man and the eye of the woman. Then I decided I needed a couple of butterflies. And as I was working, I was thinking about how for the last 9 months while my in laws were getting sicker and sicker how little time I had to create. And creating art is my therapy. For ALL things. Mad or glad, happy or sad. I get my feelings out on the paper or in the art journal or on a canvas or whatever medium I happen to be working on. And as I was working, I realized how much I'd MISSED it. And how good it felt to get my fingers inky and think about something other than whether mom or dad needed our attention more on this day or who needed to go to the doctor or what we needed to do for their care. And it became cathartic for me. And that's when I knew I had to put the words "healing" and "therapy" on the tag. And I had to do it "my way." So to me, the eyes represent mom and dad. And they've transformed into butterflies and will now be hovering about, watching and guiding as we go about Finding A New Way.

 My tag using the Paint Marbling Technique found on page 42 of CofC3.
 Second tag swiped through the Distress Paints
 And third tag swiped through the paint.
 All three tags together.
 Completed tag.


 RIP dad. You lived a rich, full life and you will be missed.
RIP mom. We love you and will miss you always. And now you and dad are together forever.

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Very vibrant colors of love... love the way you have created your tag for your parents to enjoy and love... of course they can see it... and also feel it... thanks for sharing...
Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie

Karin said...

Beautiful, meaningful tag. I hope you continued to be guided in this loving way. x

Art Joy of Sharing with Peg and Shel said...

What a meaningful post. Their love resides within you.

Candy C said...

Sue...I love your tag and I loved reading your blog post. I feel like you do in that art is definitely a cathartic way of expressing our inner most feelings. Your tag is beautifully done and the meaning behind it is even more beautiful. I have also lost both of my parents but I know that they are always with me in spirit. Everytime I see a butterfly, I think of my mom. I think butterflies are God's gentle reminder for all of us to soar. Thanks for sharing your heart with all of us at CC3C. <3 Candy

Astrid Maclean said...

This is such a beautiful dedication to your parents and a most wonderful little work of art too. I totally agree with what Candy said, it is simply stunning!

Hels Sheridan said...

So sad to hear of your losses... I can see that you have immersed yourself in your art as this tag is truly beautiful... sending my condolences to you and yours... thanks for taking part in the CC3C x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Crafting tends to help heal! I am so sorry for your loss Sue. I am sure it's not been easy. Please know I am thinking of you.
Your tribute tag is gorgeous...and the butterflies are very symbolic! Gorgeous piece friend! Hugs!
Thank you so much for playing along in our first CC3 Challenge!!!

Susan said...

Love the colirs in your tags and your moving tribute to your parents. So very sorry for your loss. Thanks for playing along with us!

Cheryl Grigsby said...

What a beautiful tribute to your dad. Your tag is so meaningful and full of life. Isn't art a great way to express all that's in your heart? Very nice work!

Yvonne said...

So sorry for your loss..and what a beautiful tribute. Your tag is beautiful and I adore the color pallet! and the butterflies! and the overall feel of the tag. Thank you so much for playing along.

Annette Green said...

Sue, your blog post touched my heart. I understand the struggles of caring for elderly in-laws, then losing them. You and your hubby obviously took great care of them. This tag is so vibrant and joyous. Isn't it wonderful to have a beautiful escape such as art? Well done, my dear.

Ruth said...

Art is therapy, sad times for you but so glad you have been able to create such an absolutely stunning tag. It's a wonderful creation. x

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

The tags are gorgeous and your choice of colour really shows the technique off well.
Happy crafting, Angela x

Marjie Kemper said...

Sue, I am so glad you were able to make art and I really love the significance of the eyes and butterflies. I am very sorry for your losses, two so close together, and I understand exactly what you mean about being the caregiver and missing the art. Wishing you many more artsy hours in the future. Thank you for joining us at CC3C.

Zuzu's Blog said...

Caring for people can be so exhausting, no matter how much we love them. its just a fact. and finding time to do things like crafting etc just gets so hard. I missed it too when life got put on hold so i could help care for my mum when she got cancer. Of course I appreciated every second I could be with her with time running out, but i still missed my life and my "down time". It is wonderful that your mum and dad had you to watch out for them.
As for your tag, it is stunning. a wonderful piece of therapy in the form of mixed media art. the colours are so full of life.

Donna Gibson said...

What a lovely post and a tag to match. You got to spend some time doing what you love and included those that you love in it. Well done my friend.