Artsy Fartsy

I am a 21 year old college student who has spent most of my summer working 2 part time jobs and taking four 3 credit each summer classes. With all of this agony and work, you would think: what do you do with your free time? Well instead of sleeping, I park my ass on my bedroom floor and explore my imagination, I dig deep. I usually try to figure out something crafty, or I spend time with my nose in a book.

My latest crafts have been painting:

This was just a simple white word I found at A.C. Moore. I used acrylic paint around the edges and to cover the whole thing. Then used a very small brush to create the "leopard print."

Some people may find it weird that I used this color combination and pattern on this specific word. However, I looked at it as "Imagine" being my favorite song by John Lennon, purple being my favorite color, and leopard being my favorite print. It's kind of an introduction to myself.

The next project I worked on was a finger knitted jersey bracelet. I only ventured in experimenting with the "2 finger" knit (the yellow bracelet shown above), but you can also use three or four fingers to create an even bigger shape.

The instructions to create these pieces are here.

"Cards I've Made"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

My final crafts of the past two weeks included these handmade, hand stamped cards. The ink, paper and stamps are mostly all from Stampin' Up.

Harry - thanks for the memories.

Well folks, it is the end of an era.

I am not ashamed to admit I have been a Potterhead for years. Not since day one, but very close to it. When I was in 6th grade, my friends mom asked if I wanted to see the afternoon premiere of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone which came out later that week. I said yes because I never missed any opportunity to go to a movie on a day off of school. After years of having no desire to pick up the first novel, I checked the book out from the library so I knew what the movie would be about (I have always been the type to compare book to movie.) I became so engrossed in the book that I read it in one day. I fell in love with the movie, I saw it about 5 times in theaters. I soon began reading the books like they were my only chance of survival. The movies became part of my life.

Then, around the 6th novel, I got really bored. I felt as though I was rereading the same thing just a different scenario. I was tired of the Harry Potter books. I could see the movies, but lost interest in reading the books.

Two weeks ago, I decided to change this. I bought the last Harry Potter book to finish off my collection and I read during every free moment I had. I read before bed, in the middle of the night, before going to work, at work - and finally, it was over. I had many moments of tears and many moments of "what-the-hells," but it was worth it. I could not wait to see the movie.

I saw the movie yesterday morning and I had to saw it was amazing. Better than expected, so, so so much better than expected. I loved it. I laughed and cried, but mostly cried. I am still finding it hard to believe his legacy is over. There will be no more books, there will be no more fears of Voldemort's return, but most of all, there will be no more Harry Potter.

Harry Potter has been like my stuffed animal, Baxter, to me. I have had Baxter since I was 3 and he has always just been there. A good friend, someone to turn to when I have had a bad day or just want to shut myself away from the world, something to captivate me, to hold my interest and to exercise my imagination which we tend to lose as we grow older.

Thank you, Harry for opening up a new world to me and so many others. We will miss you.

When I’m 80 years old and sitting in my rocking chair, I’ll be reading Harry Potter. And my family will say to me, “After all this time?” And I will say, “Always."
-Alan Rickman

~ xoxo