I would love to be sitting under a blanket on this blustery day, turning pages of a good book. Instead, I turned over the last page of the wall calendar and felt the panic that unsues upon seeing *December*. Yikes. It feels like there is so much to do, doesn't it? That is exactly the reason I started my Ruby Tuesday journal, November 2009. I was searching for creative therapy to maintain my sanity - not that the holiday season makes me crazy, but shelving my art does. Keeping a weekly appointment with art-just-for-me-because-it-feels-good-to-have-messy-hands was a rewarding experience that continues today. Yesterday, being a Tuesday, I gathered imagery inspired by the windows at Bergdorf Goodman. Other things came up and distracted me but that's ok. This morning I enjoyed the process of transferring, cutting, and playing with composition to create a RT spread. It's Wednesday and I am not even close to being done but I prefer to leave things unfinished in my studio - it motivates me to get back there, and to pick up the momentum upon my return. Here is where I left off....
Maybe I'll be done by next Tuesday. Maybe not. The hour spent *in process* was not only a step toward completion, but it opened my mind to many other related ideas. My wheels are spinning, and sometimes that is enough while I tend to real life deadlines.
I wish you a happy December, a happy Hanukkah, and a peaceful moment each day to catch your breath and believe it will all get done.
Cool !! Are these cool images will be turned to rubber stamp ?
Posted by: Lay Hoon | Wednesday, December 01, 2010 at 05:00 PM
Oh, yummy! I can't wait to see them finished! You find the coolest images to play with. Have a wonderful December
Posted by: Nancy | Thursday, December 02, 2010 at 12:53 AM
Michelle,
Your sneek peek of the window inspired me as well but I only got as far as digging through my stamps to find the ones that reminded me of the window...and I am not going to get farther than that right now. I am trying very hard to stay on track and get the project I have been gathering for started. But your motivation is helping push me forward. As always, thanks for your inspiration and sharing.
Once again, great art!
Until later,
Judy
Posted by: Judy N | Thursday, December 02, 2010 at 06:54 AM
So cool! I wondered if we'd see more celestial imagery from you again after seeing that window ;) I can't wait to see the finished spread!
Posted by: Carrie | Thursday, December 02, 2010 at 08:53 AM
So gorgeous and so wonderfullu inspired, Michelle !
I think I need a dose of "art-just-for-me-because-it-feels-good-to-have-messy-hands" today - even if it is only an hour in between craft fair prep and house work that needs to be done because I have a dear friend/houseguest arriving tomorrow....
Time to turn off this screen and get those hands messy..
Happy and playful December to you, Wonderful One !
Posted by: Kim Mailhot | Thursday, December 02, 2010 at 08:58 AM
I just love it! :) Where did you find those delicious images?
Posted by: forcryeye | Thursday, December 02, 2010 at 12:05 PM
Those check-list gremlins do growl if you don't check them off, don't they?
Thanks for the holiday wishes and the inspiration, Michelle. I really do need to factor in some personal art time. It's good to be reminded. *checks thanking friend off list*
Happy Advent!
Posted by: JeriAnn | Friday, December 03, 2010 at 09:02 AM
I see an amazing work of art in the works here. It is good to build in some cliff hangers in our work process. It does keep us coming back to see how the story unfolds.
Posted by: Kathryn - Collage Diva | Friday, December 03, 2010 at 09:16 AM
I like where you're headed... especially the compass'... xo
Posted by: Jennifer White | Friday, December 03, 2010 at 05:38 PM
hello Michelle,
nice to see how you are inspired by the windows ! I love circles and I do love the ones you show !
I'm working on the 'sketchbookproject" ( google this if you don't know it) and my title is" dirigibles and submersibles"
I think I might be inspired by your circles for certain pages ! I must take a good look in my Dover artclipbooks. Did you cut out by hand all the white spaces between your circles ? Silly question I guess, but I think you did....
I wonder what you may do with these and how I will end up my pages...
greetings from belgium
Inge
Posted by: inge | Saturday, December 04, 2010 at 05:13 PM
there you go again, getting all sane and grounded during the Holiday Craze and reminding us that a dip in the tub of creativity can only help us in our pursuit of whatever the heck it is that we think we must do. I vote for doing less, avoiding deadlines and having Holiday FUN.
Your take on the windows is delightful. The fan club is hooting and applauding. Happy Holidays M- Dearest.....
Posted by: Lisa Hoffman | Saturday, December 04, 2010 at 07:25 PM
This shot looks incredible already.
Posted by: Seth | Sunday, December 05, 2010 at 09:29 PM
Fantastical and utterly fabulous, Michelle! Can't wait to see YOUR big reveal of these pages...Bergdorf eat your heart out! All good wishes coming right back at you! oxox
Posted by: linda warlyn | Monday, December 06, 2010 at 04:08 PM
So freeing. Really like these ideas. When I was writing a novel and stories, I used to purposely leave the last page of the day in mid-paragraph, so prompt me when I returned. I'd read over the previous few paragraphs and then HAD to finish that thought.. it got me rolling on to the rest of the story. Your process reminded me of that. I like to do it now. And in my house, the mess is seen as productivity!
Posted by: Chris | Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 04:21 PM
Hi Michelle - There's an article with Bergdorf's window designer in this e-magazine, Lonny.
Here's the link: http://www.lonnymag.com/issues/12-december-2010/pages/1
Posted by: Stephanie | Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 01:26 PM