What the world needs now

This was a page for a stamp-themed chunky book swap I did last year. I need to remember how I did this background because I like it. Think a lot of these started out with a gessoed page which I then layered paint on in different ways. The bright colors of this one are what I like I think as I like lots of color but don't use it as often as I should, tending toward more subdued looks. I try to take time to scan all of what I send out, because so far most of the art I've made is for swaps. On looking back at the scans, there will techniques I tried or experiments that I forgot about. Journaling about each different one would be great, but if I took the time to do that right now, I'd never get the art stuff done. On this page, the painted background was my experiment, the next layer some purchased paper, of course the stamp is real, and the words just cut out of an old book. I've seen Jennifer Black use this technique and I really love her work.

I've not had time to work on much new this week. I tweeked the Birdman some more, added some shells to the front of the wings and found another tiny snail shell but decided to add it to the top of the shrinelet as extra decoration. I'm waiting until I think I'm done with him to take another pic and post it.

I did get to Hobby Lobby. Well, should confess I went last Friday and then yesterday afternoon, too. Visiting restrictions will have to be imposed on me, I can see. Limits are going to have to be put into place. Yesterday, though, I didn't spend much. I had realized they had jewelry tools and findings half price and I had been too cheap to pay $11 for a crimping tool, so I went back to get it on sale. I want to try making some of the book thongs when I get a chance and possibly some jewelry.

I've been thinking lately, as this post is bringing it to mind, how I'm all over the place in what I want to do. Debating whether I should try to force myself to focus on just one thing. My problem is I find myself fascinated with each new discovery and want to try each one. That's always been the way I've been. There is just so much out there in this wide world of ours to learn and do and just so little time to do and see it all. As I discover things in the world of arts and crafts, I feel the same way. I want to try it all. I also think that I am trying to find what I need to be doing, what is my medium, what is my voice. Not the only one I will try, but what is the best way for me to express what I want to express or what is my talent, if there is such an animal. I can draw and used to could paint decently many moons ago, but haven't so far made the time to resurrect the painting skills, though I have been trying to do some drawing again. I think for now, I'm going to give myself permission to keep trying new things. Why are women always analyzing what we do and judging ourselves like this anyway? I don't think my husband ever worries about why or what he does.

As for today's picture posted, I think the words speak for themselves.