Sunday, February 24, 2013

This I Believe

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year."  Ralph Waldo Emerson 


Emerson wrote these words about time.  He called it the great illusion -- that we live as though the best days are yet to come, and take the present moment for granted.   On the one hand, when we're having a bad day, it is comforting to think that our best days are yet to come.  But if we wake up with the attitude that today will be ordinary, chances are it will be. 


This quote inspired me to honor my parents.  They truly embrace each day to the fullest.  There's not a Broadway show, opera, museum exhibit or concert that they don't see.  They have traveled extensively.  When they're not at a performance or out of the country, they're dining out with their friends, walking on the Coney Island boardwalk, volunteering somewhere, or visiting their children and grandchildren.  They have joie-de-vivre to the max!


This is the quote of the month at Artists in Blogland's Color This Quote challenge, which starts tomorrow.  What does it make you think about?  Share your creation with other artists here!


Materials and process:  This is the back cover of a book I altered (I'll be showing the rest in my next post!).  I cut the niche to fit the photo, and then collaged book pages through and around the opening using matte medium.  I also used Tim Holtz Symphony tissue tape underneath the quote.  I stenciled the squares using my borders stencil, mixing mica powder and glass bead gel to create the glittery texture.  The heart and rose are polymer clay baked in my (accident proof) Amaco oven (thank you Judy Shea for your wonderful class!), and I made the leaves using fiber paste painted onto deli paper, then cut and stained with fluid acrylics (green gold, quinacridone magenta and nickel azo gold and carbon black).


Submitting to the challenges at Stampotique (SDC88-use text) and at City Crafter (all that glitters).

Linking to the blog hops at  Create With JoyCreative Everyday, Make It Monday, and Monday Mantras.

Thank you for visiting! I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can.

33 comments:

  1. Just beautiful. Amazingly talented!

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  2. Gorgeous! I love all the textures and colors. :)

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  3. Your parents are such an example! A great way to put your heart into your quote!

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  4. This is gorgeous! What a tribute to your parents and what a role model they are for you and everyone! Love that quote - it is so very true.

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  5. absolutely beautiful tribute to the beautiful couple, I love the process and wow you do such amazing work!

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  6. How lovely to have such wonderful role models as parents, this is a lovely tribute!xx

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  7. Oh Jessica! THIS is incredibly GORGEOUS...WOW! I am over here staring at it! lol Loved that u entered in the Stampotique challenge too!

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  8. Beautiful. The colors, the heart and the flowers are amazing.

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  9. This is awesome! Thanks for playing along with us at CCCB!

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  10. Lovely creation and elegant tribute to your parents ~ how loving ^_^

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  11. I love this! I am writing this on my heart as I type!

    Thanks for linking up!

    Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity

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  12. What a gorgeous frame!!Thanks so much for playing this week at CCCB :-)

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  13. So beautifully done! Many thanks for playing along at CCCB!

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  14. Fabulous Frame Jessica. I saw this on mIM..Loz

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  15. Your parents are so cute.....I can see where your cuteness comes from. Gusto right! I saw your piece and now have to think of what I will do. Enjoy your trip....xox

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  16. WOWZER... I am loving this. A true work of art.. I am so glad you shared it with us over at CCCB!

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  17. What a beautiful, heartfelt way to honor your parents. They're an inspiration for us all.

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  18. Wow... Wonderful quote and stunning work.
    Thanks for sharing with us at Stampotique Designer's Challenge this week.
    See you again soon.
    Sarinda

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  19. I love everything about this, what a wonderful post & gorgeous project! Thanks for joining us at the Stampotique Designers Challenge!

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  20. your creations are always so beautiful. So many details to look at and decipher. Beautiful!

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  21. Such brilliant colours and fab embellishing . Thanks for sharing on Make it Monday
    Shirley-Anne

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  22. lovely tribute to your parents, Jessica, I love this quote.

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  23. This is lovely. I am amazed at all the wonderful textures and colors that you achieved. Thanks for sharing.

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  24. Wow I saw the bright colors on MIM and so glad I came to see your project. I love it. I love this kind of work and never know where to go with it so I don't do it. I love what you did. AWESOME.

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  25. Wonderful piece and tribute to your parents.

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  26. Gorgeous colourful creation. Love your bold textures

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  27. Good for your parents! I wish everyone would squeeze every drop out of their life experience like they are doig :)

    I'm here via Willowing and enjoying my visit immensely :)

    Those "carpets" on the streets of Guatemala are incredible!

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  28. That is a great way to honor your parents. :)

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  29. Wow, what a wonderful tribute to your parents. So beautifully done and I love the details and techniques you used - you really captured the quote perfectly.

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  30. Just stumbled onto Artists in Blogland-LOVE your work.

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  31. Such a wonderful tribute to your parents Jessica, and a great take on the Artists in Blogland Challenge. I am loving the amount of wonderful texture and dimension you always seem to create in your work. xx

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