Friday, January 25, 2013

Focus On Life - Create Art


The prompt for this week is "Create Art". I thought this would be an easy one for me to do. Because I dabble into a LOT of things. I sketch, sew, crochet, make jewelry, of course, and my first love: embroidery.

I also had a project sitting in my to-do list for a long time. So I decided this was a sign for me to begin, and finish it off in one week. And I did start it too! On Sunday. On Tuesday, I went to see the hand therapist for my thumb tendonitis, and everything was put on hold. For at least 6 weeks.

I figured I could still do sketching. But. I didn't feel like it. So I did not. In fact, I did not do anything at all this whole week as far as straight-from-the-heart-creation goes. I am okay with it, I know my mind needs a break :-)

Am sharing a picture of an old sketch I had made of cats. From a calendar. It hangs along with one of a lion and another one of a blue bird in my husband's office.


(yes, that thing on the top left corner is also a cat :-))

I would like to update everyone who read and commented on my post from last week.
This Monday was the first long weekend of the year (not counting New Year's day of course), and I did keep my promise to go some place I have never been before.

I went to this place about an hour's drive from home, it has a windmill farm! I had wanted to go there for a very long time. It was only an hour away, and I have been in that area a lot of times, driving alone, to meet family. But this trip was different. I was not going to a familiar place, I was not going to meet my own people. And to top it off, there was no address to feed into the GPS. Those who have met me, and know me well, know that I have a great sense of direction. I can get lost inside a house :-) But I made it there, and back. Yes, I was scared to get out of my car when I got there. There was absolutely no traffic there, not a soul in sight. And very narrow road, very small turnouts to pull over for pictures. (I bet it would not seem like that to someone else, as I know a lot of people who have gone there and taken excellent photos, but this is what we see from my perspective, ok?) But I did it :-)

I did not get good pictures, but here is one that I do like


I stopped by in a cute little shopping/dining area for lunch. Had some time to kill before I ate, so went to T J Maxx just because. I took quite a few pictures of things that caught my fancy there too, but this is what I liked the most


And this one, I found hidden among bedsheets and towels and what not. This photo is for all of you who commented on my post from last week, and encouraged me to do what this piece of artwork says :-) I hope to make this a regular feature in my life :-)

 
Now off you go to Sally's blog and visit everyone else :-)

38 comments:

  1. Wow...what an awesome sketch! I do wish I could do that! I have a great sense of direction...but I go NOWHERE without my GPS! Good for you! It looks like an awesome place for an escape!

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    1. Thank you, Patti! That GPS is more or less my life-line now!

      I wish I had photos of the other sketches I did, those were pretty cool too.

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  2. It seems you found a beautiful way to create a day with an artful eye for sharing it. Great job taking doctors orders too :)

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    1. Thanks Emma. I did have a great time! The sun was out after a LONG time, and I went out without feeling guilty about leaving the hubby home alone, since he did have to go to work ;)
      I got a lot more pics at TJ Maxx...of weird animal figurines that showed up all over the store :)

      Am hating the doctor right now :)

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  3. Oh, sorry to hear about your wrist / thumb issue - make sure you don't use it so it can heal properly!

    Your cats are adorable! You have some serious talent - plan to use this skill :)

    Your pictures this week are gorgeous - lovely moments in life; thanks for sharing!

    Take care!!

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    1. Thanks Alicia! The urge to sketch comes up once in a while. The reason I don't do it so much is I don't know what to do with the sketches once they are done. The Zentangles I see popping up everywhere these days really fascinate me, but am holding back because...what do I do with them? There is no wall space in my home to hang them, and I don't even have a cube at work to hang it.

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  4. Your cats are adorable! I'm glad you are taking time to recover...remember Doctor's orders. I think we all deserve time on our own and your weekend sounds like a great get-away spot.

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    1. Thanks Katherine! I was quite up-beat about the down-time, but the first weekend of doing nothing was excruciating. Can't wait for this to be over :)

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  5. So sorry to hear you cannot use you hands for several weeks. Love the cat drawing. Your photo of the wind farm is amazing. I just love seeing these windmills wherever they are. Your photo is so surreal. To me they are wonderful kinetic sculptures.

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    1. Thanks Mary!
      I was quite surreal up there. Totally abandoned, not a soul in sight. It was not windy, so they were barely moving, but every now and then I would hear a "thwack" that would make me jump out of my skin!

      I love those cats too :)

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  6. great post! I love this windmill farm - I've been through this area many times, and it always has such a wide-open sense of promise somehow. Great way to recharge. LOVE the sign - hope you bought that one :)

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    1. Hey there...yeah, it was nice up there! Am glad I finally went.

      Didn't buy the sign...no space to hang anything in my home...so I take pics of whatever I like...

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  7. Oh Kashmira - I love how you are sharing so much of yourself w/us on your blog. It's truly special to get to know you and I am glad you went to see the windmills - lovely shot!! You sound a lot like me,....wish we lived closer together! Sorry about your thumb and the kink it puts on you creating certain things, though, I know that's tough. Hang in there girl!!

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    1. Hey Shel!
      You are scared to go out on your own too? I think I am getting the hang of it, and am hoping to venture further out next time :) We could totally go somewhere together if you were closer :) Maybe I will visit you some day!

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  8. Cool sketch! Your day out sounds fun!! Windmill farms are so cool - I've driven past them a few times but have never stopped to photograph - something I'll have to change.

    (I'm #41 this week)

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    1. Thanks Meeling! It was a lot of fun indeed :) You should definitely check out the farm next to you!

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  9. It sounds like you had a lovely day, even if you weren't sure how to get there. :) It looks like the universe is sending you messages. Your drawing is lovely. When your hand gets better, I would love to see more.

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    1. Hey Tanya,
      Oh I think I can still sketch...maybe I will :o) I did enjoy getting out there to the wind farm. And all done by lunch time, I was back home for a nice nap :)

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  10. What a wonderful post - especially when you started out saying you did not create...Yes you did! I actually love the windmill picture.

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    1. Beti,
      I did think of my photos as art...but didn't say so since I didn't think it looked "artistic" enough...or rather not as good as other pics I have seen of the same place. But you are right, I did create art, this looks quite nice on a big screen :) Thank you!

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  11. love your sketch - i do love kitty-cats :)
    and well done you to venture off on your own - and yes, you got some great photos!
    have a great week!
    [no. 19 - i overslept]

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    1. Thank you, Claire! It was a LOT of fun going out there, and I left quite early in the morning too, so it was even better!

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  12. I love, love the shot of the windmill farm! What a great picture. Your drawing is wonderful, very talented lady!

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    1. Thank you, Courtney! I do have some more pics I took of the windmills. Need to work on "fixing" them a bit and will post them then.

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  13. Hi Kashmira,
    Sorry to hear about your thumb I hope after 6 weeks of rest it is back to normal. The kitties you sketched are very cute and a good job. When you said windmill park I was thinking windmills like in Holand not power windmills LOL. You get a star for bravery and not getting lost!
    Therese

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    1. And I shall wear my star with pride, Therese :o) Thank you!

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  14. Good for you for stepping out of your comfort zone and going somewhere unfamiliar. I love your photo of the wind farm and am always amazed at their graceful beauty. I'm terrible at driving somewhere new and usually end up a nervous wreck.

    Love the sketch of the cats!! Take care of your hand!!

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    1. Thanks Alice! I usually end up with bad stomach cramps if I am not sure where i am going! Yes, my fear is that bad! So I am quite proud of this :)

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  15. I love cats and your cat sketch is fabulous! I wish I could draw, even a little bit.

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  16. I'm so proud of you for going to some place new! It will get easier each time you do it! I saw a windmill farm for the first time last summer when we drove through Kansas. I made my husband pull over on the interstate so I could take pictures! Good job Kashmira!

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  17. I love windmill farms! Whenever I drive toward them I like to say to no one in particular "you are getting very sleeeepy ... " =) Love your sketch too!

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  18. It's great that you got to do something you have wanted to for a while. I like seeing the wind farms too. You can't force the creativity so it's good that you did something else. You did show us beautiful art that you made.

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  19. Kasmira, your photos are great works of art. See you did create it this week. Hope your hand heals well and soon.

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  20. Great post Kashmira. You took beautiful pictures and I know those windmills. It's between where you and I live!

    Hope you feel better soon. Well, no matter what you are creating like Marlene says...you'll find ways to express your artistic soul and you did it. Will do it. Love- Dita di.

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  21. So sorry to hear about your tendonitis! But your photos are very artful....love the one of the windmill farm, there is one of those a few miles from here as well. :-)

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  22. You are so very, very multi-talented!! Your sketch is fabulous.
    And YAY YOU for being so brave and heading out there alone. Despite not getting a photo you are happy with, you did accomplish so much. :)

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  23. You have done quite a lot!! Lovely pic, and cute drawing too!

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  24. Kashmira, take good care of that thumb and hand, let it heal, I hear that tendonitis is painful! I don't think I would be very creative if I was in pain, but you took a photo of how you view the windmills and that is art!! I'm so thrilled you jumped in the car and took the trip! YAY!!! GOOD FOR YOU!!!!

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