creativity

Searching For A Balloon Farm

I find it interesting that one of the most searched terms that brings people to this blog is “balloon farm”. I’ve never actually seen a balloon farm, so I can’t really say what one is, but I like the one my daughter created. I’ve reposted it below.

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If I lived on a farm I would ride horses, do cartwheels in the grass, and make a balloon farm.

To make a balloon farm I would make a secret recipe.

1. First I would mix dirt and popcorn together.

2. Next water it and sprinkle salt on the ground.

3. Then you water it and last you wait a day and you have a balloon farm.

And that is what I would do if I lived on a farm.

I don’t know what the exact assignment was that she wrote this story for, but what a great use of imagination. All it takes is dirt, popcorn, salt, and water to grow a balloon farm. 🙂 Sounds like a great place to live.

W.I.P.S

Works in progress.

Now that things have settled down, I thought I would share some of my works in progress. It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to sit in front of my sewing machine or do much in the way of other creative projects, but I did manage to squeeze in a few over the past few months.

Mystery Quilt – this was a class I took more than a year ago. I had finished the top, but decided it needed something more. I added two borders and took it to be quilted in July. Thankfully I was able to pick it up before we moved and I am now getting around to finishing the binding.

Next is my newest hobby to discover – Encaustics. This is the first time I’ve ever tried it and it was so much fun. I can’t wait to do more.

And finally, just a quick little something. I still need to add the lights inside, but it’s a glass block, embellished with stickers and a vinyl transfer. I saw this idea a few years ago and it’s always stuck with me. It makes a great night light, shelf decoration, whatever. You can put a ribbon around it and make it look like a Christmas present under a tree or change out the lights and ribbon and use it for any other holiday too. The possibilities are endless.

I’ll add to this page as I make progress or create new projects. Look for the link to WIPS at the top of the site by the Home & About Me links.

Creative Culture & Community

I read this post this morning from Randy Elrod and it really got me thinking about the community we create around us. While we may not all be the creative type he speaks of, but we all have something to offer and share with those around us. But in this world of social media and technology driven society, we have a tendency to lose the personal interaction that comes with a close knit group that we share life with.

I remember growing up in Highland Park and the sense of comfort that came from being surrounded by people that I knew and shared life with. Every 4th of July our street would have a block party. One side of the street would be responsible for salads, the other side desserts. Main courses were brought by each family, and we would block off the entire street for the day. Games would be played, a bike parade for the kids was held (and we would decorate our bikes like it was the Rose parade if we could), and the evening was capped off with square dancing, sparklers and fireworks. It was a big deal, and we all looked forward to it every year. But it was also the other 364 days in between that established that sense of community and togetherness that we all shared. Whether it was picking mulberry’s & honeysuckle in the neighbors backyard, sledding down the hill in the winter time, or riding our bikes until well after dark in the summer – this was the place to be. We shared in the good times and the not so good times.

And that is what creating community is all about. The sharing and interacting with others. Finding something in common that brings you together and then exploring the differences you all bring as well.

Want ideas on how to create this kind of community where you are? Spence Smith (another member of the “Franklin Campus”) has a great follow up post to Randy’s. Have ideas to share? Comment below. I look forward to the community we have here, but I also look forward to the community I can create around where I am now too.