One of the biggest problems, besides lack of power, is that everyone is running out of gas. There have been fist fights at some stations. It's crazy. I have two friends and their dog camping out at my house until their power is turned back on. I have friends stopping by for showers and to charge their phones. I am lucky to be able to offer these "luxuries!"
With no gas to drive with, and so many places closed, it's been a prolific week for art!
LIST IT TUESDAY: The prompt this month is "quick fixes." All I could think of was "rescuing" art journal pages I hated (more below on that). This kind of curmudgeonly thought prompted me to think about my mental outlook this week, which has been cranky and judgmental. My quick fix for this has been to try to cultivate a little compassion, and at least keep my mouth shut. This thought inspired this art journal page:
Speak kindly or don't: What is (negatively) thought but not spoken is better than what is thought and then said, which is better than what is said and then acted upon.
Here are two more "quick fixes" of art journal pages I had abandoned in disgust!
This was a page I finished after our hurricane preparations. The photo at the center of this page is from an article about manipulating photography before photoshop. The words: "embrace imagination.. Think Different!" are advice I gave to myself as we stocked up on batteries, candles, and I made vats of soup.
I love how this page ended up, even as much as I disliked what it started as! The only thing you can see from the original is the gorgeous Stencil Girl borders. I don't know what I'm going to write on this page -- I like it so much the way it is, it might take a while before something worthy comes to me!
The CALENDAR PROJECT: It wasn't hard to find the time to finish my October calendar and start my November one.
The first box in October says: This year, Halloween WILL HAPPEN in October. It can't possibly snow again. The last box says: NO Halloween this October again! Who would-a thought it!
I originally intended the openings for the November days to look like leaves. But I think they look like Byzantine onion domes!
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| (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Even though I joined in with the calendar project at the end of 2012, I really enjoy it, and am looking forward to continuing in 2013.
Yesterday was the first day of Art Every Day month at Creative Everyday. Hope you'll participate and check out all the fabulous links there, and at Paint Party Friday. Remember that you still have a week to join in Artists in Blogland's 3rd Fall Fearless & Fly challenge! Check out Jane Davies' thoughtful work as our current guest artist. On Monday, November 12, there will be a new challenge with Maria McGuire as our guest artist. Can't wait to see what Maria does!
Thank you for visiting! If you are so moved, please leave a comment. Hearing from you means the world to me.
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Nice quick fixes. Hope your husband can find gas, it looks pretty dismal where you are with craziness ruling the day. At least you are a port in the post storm for friends and neighbors alike. I really like the leaves - uh byzantine droplets for your November calendar. xox
ReplyDeleteThose pages are amazing! I especially love the first one :)
ReplyDeleteMan, I hope things get back to normal for you guys soon. That is rough!
Loving your pages. So pleased that you are safe which is the main thing. We rarely have hurricanes in the UK like Sandy but we do suffer with strong winds from time to time which causes great devastation, flooding and trees uprooted. Happy PPF, Annette x
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful assortment of work and those pictures are crazy, glad you're okay.
ReplyDeleteJess- your "rescued" pages are AMAZING...LOVE them..I am so glad u r ok and are able to help others...thanks for sharing your always awesome inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteLove your pages - they are all very different and colorful - and very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are making the best of things with friends and art! Byzantine domes are one of my favorite architectural treats- so I definitely see that in your wonderful November calendar.
ReplyDeleteSo prolific!
ReplyDeleteYou are such an inspiration making the most of this week...so glad you are safe.
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art
So sorry that you and your friends have been hit so hard by hurricane Sandy. Blessings to you and to those you so generously and kindly help, Jessica. I am watching the Staton Island photos now and am still in shock at the devastation...wow. The east coast is changed forever. Keep making your art and adding more love to the world! ~ kath
ReplyDeletelove your art journal pages. Hope things soon get back to normal, could not believe how much devastation this storm caused. x Lavinia
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I am dumfounded that in the midst of it all, your creative muse was fast at work. I particularly like the first one because of the quote, but all of your reworks are beautiful. Perhaps you work better under "pressure". Let's hope November brings better days.
ReplyDeleteBless you for helping so many others who are in need!
ReplyDeleteI'm new to your blog, and I'm really loving your work. I love the idea of your calendar pages and I'd like to try this myself. Thanks for all the inspiration!
Oh My! You've had quite a week Jessica. I hope all is getting better recovering from Sandy. What a nightmare. Very COOL Journal and calendar pages. Great how the architecture inspire you. Going to check out some of your links. Be safe and happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you're recovering. And keeping your creative fires going.
ReplyDeleteRinda
Jessica, so glad to know you are alright and that you have been blessed with the ability to help others in need. I'm amazed that you are creating art and blogging under the circumstances, good for you! Your pages are fabulous and I love your calendars! I will be checking out that link because you have inspired me! Keep safe, hope things improve quickly!
ReplyDeleteJessica, what a blessing you can offer that to friends, so glad to hear you are ok. Wonderful things will come your way and good Karma for you.
ReplyDeleteI like your pages, my favorite is the first one.
I hope things settle down soon in your area ♥
Hi Jessica, these are awesome journal pages and so spot on. I'm happy that things are okay for you and that you are helping those in need right now. It's people like you who do these things that make the world the right place to be. Thank you for being such a gracious and generous person. God will bless you. Take care.
ReplyDeleteFabulous calendar pages -- the colors for November are so vibrant and juicy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great reminder to hold my tongue. I need to bookmark this page.
ReplyDeleteJessica I didn't realize you were in the path of the storm - I'm so glad you are okay! You are an angel for helping those in need! It's awesome that you had extra time for creating - and your pages are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh my, good thing that that tree didn't fall on your house! Scary! I'm glad you're okay though. Amazing that you still found time and energy for creating such beautiful pages. I especially LOVE the "Speak kindly or don't" one.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have had a pretty mixed sort of time... stuck in the house, lots of work done and having friends stay )fun in a sort of a way.. if you forget the circumstance. I love how your page ended up.. lots of layers and transparencies and it glows!
ReplyDeleteGreat work; the first one is appealing to me most. Glad you van help a lot of people there, glad you are a person that will do that.
ReplyDeleteGosh you have been busy....... I hadn't realised where you were. I'm so glad you are ok.
ReplyDeleteI love everything you shared but especially your calendar pages. I am hoping to join in with this project for 2013 :)
Karenx
so happy you emerged with minimal damage! the uprooted sidewalks are just insane. I've never seen anything like it! Still waiting for our power to come back -- ugh!
ReplyDeletelove that calendar project idea! We've got a few uprooted trees too - but at least most people here have power! Happy belated PPF!
ReplyDeleteCaitlyn (ladyphlogiston)
It sounds like you are very compassionate, opening your house to others. I make and write/draw in my calendar page each month, but not like yours! Love the pumpkins in October - have to see what's going on in the calendar project! {:-Deb
ReplyDeleteYou sure put your hurricane time to good use! Love all the journal pages. Your friends must be so glad to have a warm haven of showers and power at your house!
ReplyDeleteFirst, how wonderful of you to open your home for the victims that got hit hard. That will never be forgotten. Remember..karma. Your pages are lovely. I love the domes. I'm more of a curvy girl. Your October calendar ended beautifully. Who would have known that Halloween would be cancelled because of another storm in October. I'm afraid they say this may be the norm for the Northeast now? God, I hope not.
ReplyDeleteFrom the beauty in these pictures you would never guess that there's so much chaos around! Firstly your 366 journal pages(the reason for my visit) are fantastic! Love your spooky October(sorry it didn't happen!) but those lovely bright colours of November are right up my street! Then there's the 'rescued' pages in your journal - wowee! They are gorgeous and I'm sure was good for restoring a little bit of calm. Take care, Chrisx
ReplyDeletewowza-so much fabulous eye candy here!! So glad to know the hurricane didn't do much damage for you. We were w/o power for 5 days and also had many trees and poles downed, along with two cell towers. Fortunately we don't seem to have a gas shortage at the moment tho I know lots of people are coming into PA for gas. Your posts and art are always filled with such wonderful detail.LOve your calendar spreads!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're safe and sound. We opened our bathroom to friends too...way back in Hurricane Charlie. We were lucky to get our power back after only 10 days. All of your artwork is wonderful. The first one reminds me of Mom quoting Thumper..."If you can't say somethin nice...don't say nuthin at all".
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat to pop over and see all the creativity you've been expressing this last week. I love your page makeover and the Nov page made me think of planting bulbs for the springtime. Hope your neighborhood is getting back to normal. So glad you were spared the power failure!
ReplyDeleteVery psychodellic, loving the Byzantine theme and colour for what is generally a dreary month
ReplyDeleteOops! Skidding in late as usual ... but it is still November (just!). Love your calendar pages, and am in awe that you managed to complete them despite hurricane Sandy.
ReplyDeleteHope things are settling down for you over there and that things are getting back to normal.