Tag: crafts

A Year With Myself, Be Inspired, Everything Miz Meliz

Calling all Creatives

MizMeliz

It’s funny how the word “Creative” is now a name for people who are creative.  I can say, “I am hanging out with the creatives today.” That’s new, isn’t it?

I have had a huge burst and subsequent constant flow of creativity in the past few months.  It started around Thanksgiving.  About this time last year, just after Spring Break, I was approached by a friend to help coordinate a fundraising event at my church.  It was a big deal and I put a lot of work into it.  A LOT!  It was a major success and it is probably what started me on my way “back” from the doldrums and into my creative flow. It helped that I had some left over supplies like feathers and beads!

Blogging, writing poetry, taking pictures, making video slide shows, doing crafts, making jewelry, making costumes, decorating for parties – these are all creative expressions that I enjoy.  That part is important.  Everything I do expresses who I am.  When I create something, it becomes an extension of me.  It contains a part of me.  It is what I do to enjoy life.  Being productive, creating things and giving them to the people who I love is what I do.  It is who I am.

The Beauty That I See Becomes an Expression of Me

I don’t have a muse.  I don’t think I need one.  I like to make things when the feeling strikes or when I get an idea.  Sometimes that is late at night or at an inopportune time.  I have to hold it in my head or write it down until I can work on it.  I don’t think I could ever make a living – or work for someone else – as an artist.  In that case, I would need a muse to motivate me!  The best part of being “a creative” is that it is entirely up to me when I want to make something, how to make it, if I finish it, what ever “it” is, it’s all up to me.  That is how I like it!

 

Centerpiece From Mardi Gras Party

 

 

Blog Venture, Everything Miz Meliz

Easter Egg Craft Time!

MizMeliz

I’ve always liked decorating eggs for Easter.  In fact, I enjoy it so much, I have even made them for Christmas gifts and other occasions!  Years ago, I learned how to “blow out” an egg before decorating it and make it last forever.  I love adding to my collection every few years using new designs and new processes.

A few weeks ago I saw an international craft exhibit at the Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, CA.  I loved the Lithuania table!  I was inspired by the delicate intrinsic designs of the Lithuanian Easter Eggs.

This tree is full of blown out eggs that look hand etched with pretty lace-like designs. Every one is unique.

I figured I could give it a try.  So, I took out all my tools and some supplies and set to work.  In order to make an egg that looks a little like the Lithuanian Eggs pictured above, all I really needed was a dyed blown out egg, a crayon and an exacto knife.  I set to work etching a design.

My husband brought up some how-to videos with some amazing in-depth procedures to making the beautiful eggs in the traditional Lithuanian style.  It involved special tools, wax, and chemicals.  Um, I would be wiling to try it, but I like making my crafts with things that I already have in my cupboard and tool box.

I have made eggs using chicken, goose, and robin eggs.  I put them in tissue paper and store them in a plastic storage box and they look like new year after year.  A few of these are about twenty years old. I’ve saved one or two of each year’s set for my own collection.  I like to give them away at the holidays, and the Easter Bunny has been known to hide them for the annual Easter Egg Hunt!

Here are some of my favorites:

 

Since it took hours to make one egg etched with a simple design using an exacto knife, my hubby just happened to come home from the hobby store with a little surprise for me. . .

Everything Miz Meliz

Current Projects

MizMeliz

I’m getting ready to make costumes for the middle school Spring musical. I can hardly wait to get the patterns and get started!

The play is based on a game called Grim Fandango (a guy who was a bit of a wise guy when he was alive is caught in a limbo-type place trying to work his way into heaven, but in order to do so, he has to help save other souls…not as heavy as it sounds). It’s in an old Hollywood type of setting. The costume pattern is for a 50s roller waitress (short circle skirt with tulle petticoat and a little hat), but we will be styling them to look like art deco bell-hops. The costumes are for the dancers.