CRONE:
Creative Researcher Of New Experiences

Sunday, January 2, 2011

The journey ahead

Hello everyone,

The New Year is upon us and as I start to write the 61st chapter in the book that is my life - I feel compelled to reassess priorities and unclutter not just my home but my life as well.

One of the Gifts I received for Christmas was the deck of Self Help Cards by Cheryl Richardson, you see above.
These cards deal with 52 different concepts to increase ones awareness of themselves . The artwork on these cards is just awesome and certainly a beautiful and vivid way to remind me what particular concept I am working on.

My first thought as I opened my cards was that I would work on one idea a week since there are 52 cards - but as I thought more about it - I decided that life changes don’t happen in a week. - I felt that a month seemed a more appropriate amount of time, and of course I am always free to change that time limit - If I find I am having trouble fulfilling the necessary change.

As the ball was dropped at midnight - I shuffled all the cards up and picked my first card.

I picked “Decisions” and I felt the touch of Karma, as that seems to have been in the forefront of my mind lately. Very Uncanny.

On the Back of the card the prompt is
“ Honor your top priorities. If it’s not an absolute yes, than it’s a no.”

I made a few copies of my card and placed them around the house in strategic locations so I have a visual reminder of what it is, I want to achieve.

Increasing my creativety is also an ongoing goal for 2011 - yet Sir Knight challenged me to not create just for the sake of doing it, but to create with purpose. And it certainly stands to reason that if I am to unclutter - I must not make clutter.

I have joined a year long purse challenge hosted by Anna over at Frosted Petunias. For this first month, January 2011 - we were to construct and embellish a purse by playing with paper.

Sooooooo; Needing to have a cute reminder of my monthly goal - present in my Craft Room - I decided that this little purse would be the perfect media. (Thus meeting the challenge - and having a purpose. )



I constructed my purse using a template-I found on the web. ( Look here under Hand Bag Box ).

I was also working on my ATC for January, which has a theme of Snow this month, and I was still in a winter frame of mind. So I used white glitter Scrapbook paper for the body of my purse - used a aquamarine glitter paper for the top trim - multicolored paper sting for my handles and embellished with my decisions picture. - I altered the color saturation of the picture to a more aquamarine range so it would blend better with my decorating scheme in here and cut it in the shape of a heart. Then I added a small gem flourish off to the side.

Now is the hard part -I think it looks wonderful - simple but wonderful. - yet part of me wants to embellish it to the max. Following the wisdom set forth on the card - if its not an absolute yes, then it’s a no, I will stop here. At least for now. It maybe in the future my muse will come up with a must have embellishment that both my brain and my heart will agree with and we will go with the yes but for now it is what it is.


Hugs,
Penny

15 comments:

Mrs A. said...

Most certainly less is more. I think your bag is just devine as it is. Can't wait to see your next bag concept. Mine is no.3

Petunia said...

I love your post. It is inspiring in everyway...from the artwork and meaning of the cards to your goal of creating with purpose. Your bag is absolutely charming! Love the aquas and of course, the glitter. Thank you so much for playing along. I look forward to seeing more of your lovely creations.

Anna

Brian's Home Blog said...

That is a great idea...especially the declutter part!!!

Cat said...

It think your cards sound very interesting and kudos to you for starting straight away!

Perhaps your purse could have a pocket that would hold the card of the month which you are focusing on?

Unknown said...

Great purse.
I love to embellish myself. Sometimes I don't know where to stop. I do have to tell myself, less is more quite often and it is true.
Love the sparkle.
Thanks for sharing.
Michele

Linda said...

This is truly a beautiful bag. Love your creativity and your useof color.

Angela said...

I think your bag is great. I really love the aquamarine glitter paper. That color is soothing to me...fabulous job. Thanks for the template link, too. I'm going to check it out!
Angela

Sinderella's Studio said...

Love the cards and how you plan to use them!!!! LOVE the purse - I think it represents where you are currently at and was meant to be as it is!!!!
Hummmm, declutter - get organized - my 23 yr old tells his fiance that I say that every year - and I still seem clutter and unorganized! BUT I keep trying!!!
cheers, dana

Wendy Aspinall said...

Penny your bag is such a wonderful colour and so cute ... thanks for sharing it Hugs wendy

Tee said...

Love your purse! Very Pretty!

Jeanie Callaghan said...

Lovely winter bag!

Holly said...

Beautiful shimmery bag! I had fun with the challenge and am looking forward to the future months submissions.

Patricia's Paper Crafts said...

Very pretty!

Unknown said...

I love the colors of your bag! What a wonderful post and so inspiring. I can't wait for next month's bag!

Rosemary said...

I like your bag - it's arty, beautiful color, and it's very elegant!