Creative Fun Day #3 Update

It was a great Creative Fun Day on Saturday.  Friday evening was the artist's reception for Brain's "I" View in Jonesborough.  It was a successful reception and I think all the artists that were there were all had a great time sharing their art and their stories.  It was a busy week getting ready and by Saturday, I was ready for a bit of random creative fun.

I used the first hours of the afternoon just sitting and being inspired by creative and craft websites and the latest issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.  I haven't taken time to do that in awhile so it was fun.  I got the idea to try to punch some cellophane paper shapes to put behind clear contact to make a floating design on the wall.   Punches and cellophane don't always mix.  I got some results when I combined paper with the cellophane, but getting true shapes was still a challenge.  Once I did attach them to the clear contact paper and put them on the wall, they looked pretty good. 

It is a nice start for a potentially bigger piece of wall art.

I also did a little bit of art journaling - first layers only.

Once this month's group of creatives arrive, it was definitely Cooperative Creative Fun Day as we all worked to help each other finish their various projects.  

Laura came to make some pillows and Sarah helped her by creating some of her beautiful flowers to add to one of the pillows.

What is Becky up to in these pictures? 

We all helped her with this project.......but we can't tell you what it is just yet

because it is for her top-secret Expo project!  
Come to the OT Expo on March 28 from 3-7 and find out what this is!

(Leah was being creative too - but we can't even show her project because it is also Expo related!)

Don't feel too bad if you missed this month's fun - you can come to next month's Creative Fun Day on April 21.

We hope you will join us!

Reminder - Creative Fun Day is Saturday

This Saturday, March 17 (St. Patrick's Day) is Creative Fun Day.  Come to the house, bring a project and get inspired!  I hope to see you there.

More info

BRAIN'S "I" VIEW

This art exhibit has been a long time coming, but it is finally here.  

From March 12 through April 14, 2012, Brain's "I" View, a unique display of art created by individuals with brain injury will be on display at the Visitor's Center in Jonesborough

This exhibit includes a variety of expressive media such as painting, drawing, photography, mixed media and poetry.  Each piece also includes a descriptive paragraph from the artist sharing how the artwork reflects their personal experiences with brain injury.

We have been working on this exhibit for almost 18 months and we are so excited that it will finally be shared with the public.   The exhibit was developed and coordinated by the Milligan College Occupational Therapy Program and the Crumley House Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center.

Here is an example of one of the art pieces and the artist's description of how the piece connects to his story as a brain injury survivor.

I don’t remember being in the hospital, isn’t that weird? The last thing I remember was being at my buddy Chris’ house – the next thing was being in a wheelchair and transferring into a car when I couldn’t walk.   I am glad that I don’t remember the 6 months in the hospital because of all the things my mind and body went through.  I lost some people after I had the injury.  I didn’t understand why they disappeared.  Was it me?  Is it the brain injury?  But there were so many people that I didn’t even know that prayed for me and helped me.  It took a brain injury to change my life and it has made me a better person.  I am helping people now instead of hurting them.  My painting represents my brain after the accident.  The colors represent the hysterical feelings (yellow), my broken heart (red), the nurses (silver), therapy (blue), food (green) and memory loss (black).  There are still broken parts of me represented by the broken edge of the record.  These are things that I will have to learn to live with.

An Artist’s Reception will be held at the Visitor’s Center on Friday, March 16 from 4:00-7:00 pm.  Many of the artists will be at the reception to show their work and share their stories in person.

Something Inspiring - A Knitted Bridge Scarf

Since I didn't get around to posting new inspirations earlier this week here is something that should at least make you smile if it doesn't inspire you in some way.

My friend Sally from England sent me this link about a mysterious knitted scarf that has shown up on a bridge in North Yorkshire in honor of the upcoming summer Olympics.  The scarf includes knitted sculptures of the various athletic competitions.  My only complaint about the video is that it doesn't show enough of the scarf.  I love the idea of creating a secret surprise of any kind to share with the world and bring a smile to the people that see it.

I have no idea how to imbed a video into my blog (yet) and so here is the inspiring link.  Enjoy!

Creative Fun Day #3

MARCH'S CREATIVE FUN DAY IS COMING SOON!

Join us on Saturday, March 17 anytime between 12:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. for a day of creating.  Rachel and I are thinking of doing some projects with plaster casting.  Bring any project you want to work on and be inspired and encouraged by each others creative energy.  :)

Click here for more information!

We hope to see you there.