Holidays inevitably shake up my sense of time in their wake and I kind of like that. I’m not sure I’m very anchored in the linear anyway, but there’s something about not being exactly sure what day it is that’s rather more liberating than confusing. I mentioned that to a friend today who replied affectionately but likely with an eye-roll I couldn’t see, that I did have a way of looking at things optimistically.
LOL – well, yes I guess I do.
I’ve certainly have my share of challenges and sadnesses in my life, and it annoys me to no end when people give me a superficial dismissal as being stupidly Pollyanna-ish. Au contraire I want to snap. But the truth is I believe bottom line that the forces of life , the universe, and all that is beyond are 100+ percent conspiring to make this incarnation one filled with meaning, with joy, with love, with laughter and all that is asked of me is to keep my hands and heart open to receive it all. And I make a point to do that.
Which is probably one of the reasons I like astrologer/author Rob Brezsney who wrote PRONOIA Is the Antidote for Paranoia, which is a 400+ page compendium of quirky philosophy, inspiration, challenge, and strange wonderfulness and is one of my favorite books to dip into and pull treasures from. Brezsney defines pronoia as “the antidote for paranoia. It’s the understanding that the universe is fundamentally friendly. It’s a mode of training your senses and intellect so you’re able to perceive the fact that life always gives you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it.”
I think we need more pronoia and I like dancing in that energy, gathering bits and sprinkling them about as I move around my life. Which is why I like to play and create so much, because I absolutely believe our Muses have direct lines to expansive goodness and joy and beauty and want to help us stay plugged in.
This week’s Summer of Color challenge was to create something/anything with the color combo charcoal grey and pale pink. And in keeping with my past creations in this challenge, I created another little mini-journal that I’m dedicating to jotting down little inspirations and demonstrations of pronoia this summer.
It’s difficult to see in the photo but I have a pale pink button attached to the cover. I love that button because it looks like a little round flower made of pink depression glass, and I LOVE pink depression glass. Which delights me because it’s depression glass that makes me happy. Snort.
The inside view:
A couple of little pockets to stick stuff in, because I have to have pockets in everything (except my clothes). I’m always sewing in or somehow attaching pockets to purchased journals because there are always things that need to be held and hidden. And the quote is from this week’s horoscope from Brezsney which suggests a way to play with a project that I’m welcoming.
I’m delighted with the pages I’ve created here which are also difficult to see, but the signatures are staggered and the pages themselves are folded unevenly.
I encourage you to stop by the Summer of Color site and see what other have created with this color combo.
I haven’t done daily posting of my index cards for the ICAD challenge, so I’ll do a bit of catch up here as well. As you can see I’ve been dipping into my cookie fortunes for life wisdom this week.
And finally, it’s Friday and I like to play in Share the Link Love, the invitation to link to 5 inspiring blogs so they can receive a little notice and love. Such a lovely idea. I invite you to head over to Diane of Crafty Pod’s blog to see what blogs she’s loving this week, and also see who has posted links to their loves.
Here are my five this week:
- I love Tracey Fletcher King’s art and I love her humor. And when she writes and illustrates about an exploding head, well, it definitely earns a place on my link love list of the week. (And I have to say I’m utterly inspired. I’m playing in a 6-week project of taking daily selfies, and I’m pretty sure I now have to play around with photoshop to get an exploding head selfie this summer.
- Tara Leaver is a new discovery for me, and I’m linking to a post she did this week showing how she created a deck of inspirational cards. A card deck is one of those projects that periodically starts shouting in my brain for attention, but I have SO many ideas I don’t know where to start and so I let the invitation from my Muse slip back into the pool to surface another time. I think the idea is up again for me as I’m delighting in the little “deck” of index cards that has been accumulating thanks to the ICAD challenge.
- I adore Pat Pitingolo. She and I played together for many years as mailartists and some of the most creative and hilarious creations visited my mailbox thanks to her brilliant mind and fingers. In this post you can take a peek into one of her journals.
- Elizabeth Bunsen’s blog is eye candy that always sparks an inspiration and always makes my heart sigh in happiness.
- I love Mary Jane Dodd’s adornment art. Check out this lovely piece.
So there you have it, a peek of some of the delicious things that add to the pronoia of my life. What about you? What’s bringing you delight today? Have a link to share? A favorite cookie fortune you love? What do you keep hidden in your pockets? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Pronoia: I must read more about this! Thank you for the creativity with positivity!
Love that expression Cheryl – creativity with positivity! Thanks for stopping by.
xo Thank you!
Love connecting Kristin – thank you!
Hi Deborah…I like your ICADs!!! Great links!!! Elizabeth blog’s is always outstanding 🙂
Thanks Mary – glad you stopped by!
Deborah, your journal is absolutely stunning! Beautiful work for this week’s Summer of Color! And I had to laugh at your “depression glass” comment 😉
Thanks for the kind comments and for visiting Patricia. I find it’s always good to laugh in the face of depression. (grin)
I LOVE reading your today, what you’ve just posted are Universal Truth, I love that you’re taking this opportunity in this life to cherish every moment of everyday. I too, sometimes care not what day is it :). Having too much fun day dreaming and re-living child-like mind living in the NOW all the time, and I’m lucky to have someone to remind what day it is!. Such joy.
Your book is really sweet, yes … every journal must have pocket to hide things :).
I love your playful exuberance Shahrul – I like walking on the joy path with you. 😉
I love your journal that you created using this week’s SOC colors! And all of your ICAD’s are beautiful!!!!
Thanks Sharon!
Love your icads, and thanks for the links!
Thanks Dianne -I’m glad you stopped by.
Hi Deborah,
Thanks for the link. 🙂 Maybe it’s time for a new collaboration…what do you think?
My pleasure Pat – I adore you and think everyone should know about you. And YES – I’ll play with you any time!!! 😉
It’s always fun when I visit a blog and see there are TWO challenges I’m participating in, and trying to visit. Makes it simpler and easier.
Your SOC entry is ingenious. Very impressive use of the colors, and in a functional way, too.
And of course, I love your ICADs. They are fantastic. I’m a big fan of fortune cookie fortunes. They make absolutely perfect collage fodder. Wonderful collection, too.
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind comments Elizabeth. I love connecting with another cookie fortune fan!
I love the idea of pronoia. I think we all need more of that. I adore the websites that you have shared as part of link love. Your index cards are gorgeous and I love the fortune wisdom contained on them. 🙂
Finally your journal!!! All sorts of wonderfulness. Love the way you have used the colours and I snorted as well with the idea of depression glass making one happy. Love.
Thanks Natasha – your comments spread a little joy in my world. Pronoia in action. 😉
I love your pink and grey journal. Beautiful work. Great ICAD cards, too!
Thanks. Playing in these challenges is such fun, isn’t it?
I love the journal! pink and gray is such a wonderful combination … and pockets, yes!
Thanks for sharing the links. I follow Tara Leaver and have seen that post before … but really needed it today. Thanks!
Yes pockets always! 😉 I love when stuff comes back around for another look just when we need it – feels likes such a perfect cosmic wink.