I’ve been having a strange and fabulous day. I’m pretty sure I stepped through a magical portal of some kind. Perhaps it has something to do with the new moon, and those photos of the heart-bearing Pluto, and the fact that I’m still celebrating my birthday month, and all manner of other wonders. But here’s what’s happened so far…
They’ve been doing all kinds of infrastructure work in our neighborhood, and literally for many many weeks now we’ve had heavy equipment on our block digging away every day starting at 7 a.m. My morning routine of coffee on the front porch has been cut short all summer as the noise gets to be pretty oppressive quite quickly. But today we were able to sit and watch for a longer than usual time, being entirely mesmerized by what was going on. The huge digging machine is digging deep – I’m thinking it’s at least 15 – 20 feet down and lifting out huge shovelfuls of dirt and flat slabs of concrete. It simply boggles my mind. I’m imaging all kinds of scenarios where there would be underground sidewalks that are now being torn up, and passageways dug to the center of the Earth; and part of me wonders in both a literal and metaphysical way if the very underpinnings of our physical world is being shifted. I might have stayed longer to watch and ponder but I had to leave for a dental appointment.
Walking out back to head to the dentist a few blocks away, I passed the garage where I have a patch of Dragonflowers growing. While I love them, the truth is they’re prolific growers and they kind of make the area back there look like a jungle, having grown tall and spreading everywhere. Thinning them out doesn’t seem to do any good – overnight they seem to make up exponentially for any cutbacks. So I consider them somewhat magical to begin with – after all they ARE dragons. But I literally stopped in my tracks this morning because they just started popping their first flowers, and they’re yellow instead of the pinky purple they’ve always been in the past. How is that even possible?! I know theoretically if flowers are hybrid, genetics can revert so I suppose there may actually be a scientific explanation for this phenomenon. But frankly I don’t actually care. All I know is my flowers have magically changed color.
I kind of floated off to the dentist pondering that little bit of awesomeness, only to arrive and find out that my appointment isn’t until next week. Not only did I have the wrong date, but the appointment next week isn’t even on the same day of the week or at that particular time. I don’t know what planet I was visiting when I wrote it down on my calendar.
Later I headed out to pick up my new eyeglasses, and getting there requires a trip on one of my favorite bus routes. I always see something magical. The route is in a pretty ethnically diverse area that happens to be a sort of welcoming ground for new immigrants arriving from many cultures, and I never fail to see at least one person in some sort of traditional garb. It delights my artist heart immensely. And today it felt like I was on a magical love bus. There was an elderly woman, a Babushka, looking like she stepped directly out of a Russian storybook, grinning broadly and speaking on a cell phone in a mixture of Russian and English, and she ended the conversation by saying “I love you” at least a dozen times. My heart practically burst open it, A younger woman, I believe from Jamaica, came aboard plugged into her music and humming softly, but before the ride was over, she jumped up and started singing and dancing to a reggae love song, and the whole bus was enchanted and clapped afterwards. I’m not sure how many metropolitan buses you ride on, but having an entire bus enchanted is not an everyday occurrence I can assure you. There was love in the air for sure.
And finally when I returned home, it was to the still noisy boom boom boom of construction. It was relentless and I was just feeling the edge of a headache coming on, and suddenly out of nowhere someone shows up and starts playing a saxophone. How crazy wonderful unbelievable is that?! And suddenly the construction noise doesn’t seem disharmonious at all. It feels magical.
So you can see why I’m over-the-new-moon delighted with this crazy beautiful day. It’ll certainly be something I document in this week’s Summer of Color journal I created. This week’s palette was two oranges and a blue. Which to be honest didn’t exactly make my heart sing. Orange may be my least favorite color. And yet, being the magical day that it is, I managed to find a couple oranges in my stash that I think look pretty good paired with my blue. One of the parameters I set for myself in this challenge was to use at least one piece of handmade paper in each journal and I broke that rule this week. But I’m entirely pleased with the blue paper I did choose, and I can say that it was most definitely altered by me. It’s a piece of sandpaper. Which I dipped in fabric dye so it’s that lovely color of tropical water. I’ve experimented a lot with dyeing sandpaper and truthfully this was the only success of the bunch. But a very nice success wouldn’t you say?
The other parameter I set was using some sort of flower embellishment, thereby turning these Summer of Color journals into my “garden series.” So I used these funky little rhinestone-centered vintage beads, and created a sparkly field of flowers. Because I think all magical gardens should have sparkle-centered flowers don’t you?
So there you have it – a walk through my magical day and a peek at my journal. Did something magical happen for you today? Ever been on a love bus? Wonder if you’ve stepped into another world? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
I feel like I’ve lived a little of your life with your narrative… Each new incident pulled me in deeper. What a magical day.
Love your Orange and blue journal cover.
It was a magical day Wanda, and I’m so glad you peeked into it with me. Wishing you plenty of magic in your day as well.
Hi Deborah. I enjoyed your contributions to SOC and your posts. Wow, it was a magical day. Thank you for sharing it with us. It sounds like you enjoyed your walk and your errands to do. Loved your last piece. Great use of the colors. Hope it didn’t hurt to much at the dentist.:)) Take care.
Thanks Gloria. Wishing you lots of magical and color-filled days.
Beautiful SOC piece and loved the story of your day. Hugs, Valerie
Thanks so much – I appreciate you stopping by and saying hi.
this is awesome! the Colors are perfect for this Project.
Thanks Johanna. Glad you stopped by and wishing you all the best.
Deborah, I just loved reading your post this morning! It brought me so much joy and I can picture the happiness you felt, too! Thank you so much for sharing your art journal with us. I love how you used week 6’s colors! And I also want to let you know how much I have enjoyed following your blog through these past weeks of the SOC! It has been a pleasure! Hugs, Sharon
Thanks for your kind words Sharon. I certainly enjoying playing in SOC with you as well, and may there be joy and color and happiness filling all our days.
When I was in London I walked out of the coffee shop on the first floor of the Royal Festival Hall, when a young guy asked if he could shake my hand. I said to him: “I can do better than that, I can give you a big hug. Would you like that?” He looked gobsmacked but nodded so I gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, then wandered off across the bridge over the River Thames. When I looked back, he was standing there looking poleaxed while his mates were doubled up laughing. Not often a young man gets a hug and a kiss from a purple-headed great-grandma!!!!!
LOL – how perfect Mo!
Deborah, I loved reading about your magical day. You have such a vivid imagination ie; the underground world of hidden passageways and all sorts of wondrous things. I really like your new journal. The colors remind me of Santa Fe. How do you bind them together? I am so intrigued I might make one this weekend as an Artist Date. Thanks for sharing your magical adventure!
Oh I hadn’t thought of that Nancy, but the colors are very Santa Fe-ish indeed. Yay for artist dates, and good for you taking on this weekend!
I used a simple three-hole pamphlet stitch to bind the journals. They’re pretty small, only about 20 pages or so, so I just bind them as one signature. I use different sizes and types of paper for the pages though so there is so delicious variety.
Now THAT is quite a magical day you have shared with us Deborah! I particularly loved reading about the young woman who broke out into a song and dance on the bus and I likely would have joined right in if I had been there 😉 Music certainly does have healing and energizing powers, doesn’t it??!?
Also loved the pic of your new journal and was intrigued to learn that you dyed a piece of sandpaper, of all things! I must look into how dyeing sandpaper can be done and see if it takes to natural plant dyes since that is a project I am currently dabbling in these days =) Can’t wait to hear about more magical adventures in the days to come! =)
You’d have been a most welcome passenger on that bus Monica and would have earned your fair share of applause as well I’m sure. It makes my heart so happy when people live magically and joyfully.
And I suspect you’re definitely going to have fun experimenting with sandpaper. I’ve dipped it; used dye with brushes like paint; and laid silk wet with dye over it – all with varying results. The different grit of the sandpaper makes a difference, as does the quality of the sandpaper itself (who knew there were varying qualities?!) So many variables, so much fun to be had!
What a magical day and thanks for sharing with us. The art that came out of it is lovely also. An intriguing idea dyeing sandpaper. Must try it. Hope to see you next year on SOC.
I so glad you stopped by Indira, and how fun to share the SOC of you as well.
wow now that is a magical day for sure! Thanks for taking us along. Love your last entry for the SOC challenge-I do love this color combo!
Wishing you all kinds of magic and endless color. Thanks for popping by Linda – I appreciate it.
Sandpaper? Turquoise-dyed sandpaper? Deborah, you’re a genius.
Truth be told, orange is one of my most favorite colors (along with tortoiseshell and tabby, of course). Glad to hear you’re bringing in the gold to strike its spark against the blue.
LOL – well, okay you’ve got me Harmony. I’m going to have to admit I really do love orange. As long as there’s an animal zipped in inside it. Tortoiseshell and tabby are pretty fabulous too. You’ve certainly got a good eye for the best colors.
Nice blog post and I like how this week’s SOC-journal turned out 🙂
Thanks Valerie.
Lovely little journal Deborah! I loved reading about your magical day! I would love to see your Dragonflowers – not sure I’ve ever seen those and it sounds like I need a jungle full of them myself 🙂 Hope to see you next year!
Thanks Becky – I’m so glad you stopped by and I look forward to connecting again. Wishing you jungles of color and maybe some Dragonflowers as well.
I love how you see the magic in your days. I love to see the world this way. There are so many magical things that happen around us in every moment when we choose to see them. Lovely post 🙂
I believe that whole-heartedly Kama – there’s so much magic around us and we only need to keep our eyes open. Wishing you plenty of sightings.
Oh my what a day you had ! the girl dancing on the bus would have been fabulous, should be more happiness in the world. Gosh I love that blue you have used for your journal. I have really enjoyed joining in for the first time and love how everyone’s work is so different and unique. Wishing you many more magical days
Mary
Thanks for stopping by Mary and for the kind words. I, too, really enjoy seeing the variety of work (and colors!) – so much fun. Here’s to more color and more fun in all our lives always.
Thank you for sharing your magical world and magical journal with us!
And thanks for your part in making this summer more colorful as well. Happy creating!
Thank you Deborah! xo
I truly enjoyed this wonderful SOC Kristin – and thank you for facilitating all the magic!
Oh Deborah… stepping through a magical portal… what a beautiful and inspiring post… your handmade paper is gorgeous…
Jenny X
Thanks Jenny – I’m so glad you popped in. Wishing you lots of magic, creativity, and fabulous color!
your journal is lovely
so glad you enjoyed your day
music and dance can do that
Indeed – music and dance are magic delivery systems. Thanks for stopping by Tammie, and wishing you much joy.
Oh my goodness. I never usually read all the narrative but a comment prompted me to today and what a truly magical day you had. The only magical thing in my life right now is your page and the adorable little journal you created, colouring sandpaper indeed how amazing is that? Thanks for your story, cheered me up behind my tears. BJ
I’m glad you left my page a little cheered BJ. And while I don’t know what’s going on in your life, please know I’m holding you with love in my heart.
Thanks for sharing such a magical day. I am in wonderment with the saxophonist coming out of nowhere to play. Magical indeed. Love the journal. The textures are so beautiful and the rhinestone flowers are genius.
The sax music amidst the construction sounds was so absurdly surreal it gave new meaning to magic to for me. That’s definitely etched in my heart forever. Wishing you lots of magic as well Lorraine, and thanks for stopping by.
What a lovely day you had and the word ‘magical’ is truly the best chosen word for it! Sharing your experience on the love bus touched my heart so much. I felt like I was on it with all of you. THANK YOU for sharing your day with us! And your journal is simply delightful!
Wishing you lots of magic in all your days Elda!
Golly Deborah, I’m ONLY a week late visiting. Isn’t it sad about SOC? But the final one was a gem, anyway.
I was intrigued by your sandpaper dyeing. I’ve never tried it, but now I must. Of course, if I can dye something, I will try. And yours is strangely gorgeous. What an amazing day you had and what an incredible journal cover you created for this final SOC.
SOC sped by at triple speed didn’t it? It’s lovely to have that little expanse of shared colors though isn’t it? I can’t wait to see how your sandpaper dyeing turns out. Like you when I have the dye out, very little is safe from a bath. 🙂
Oh – what a magical day you had! I love the bus ride – makes me want to get on the bus and observe and watch – but the buses in Atlanta don’t come near my house! I had a near perfect day last week, this inspires me to write about it. I’m curious about the color of the flowers – post a picture with you next blog – I want to see them!
Yay for near-perfect days – can’t wait to read about yours Vickie. They’ll likely be lots of flower photos soon. My rose tree is simply loaded with blossoms and my several-times-a-year lilac is blooming again as well.