Awkward Introvert Independence Day-A Peek-a-Boo Project

I have written about my introverted side before and my avoidance of crowded situations.  July for many in the United States about celebrating our Independent Day on July 4th. As an introvert I tend to stay away from the crowded parades and firework celebrations, but they are the inspiration for this artwork- well, sorta…

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Paint GSLC Star Medallions and GSLC Banner Border Strips Using Red, White, Blue, Gold, Yellow Acrylic Paints, Stencil Butter Blue and Red and a Paintbrush.
   
3. Alternate Red, White, and Blue Paint on GSLC Banner Border Stars. Put a Dollop of Gold Paint on Circles Between Each Star.
   
4. Paint Each of the GSLC Star Medallions a Primary Color of Red, White and Blue.
   
5. Add  Shimmer with Metallic Paints and Stencil Butters.
6. To Add Patina Dry Brush with a Wash of Nice Azo Yellow.
   

   
7. Once Fully Dry use Embroidery Thread-TriColor Red, White, Blue and Needle to “Stitch” the GSLC Star Medallions.
   
8. Use a Small Hole Punch to Put a Hole at the top of Each GSLC Star Medallions and Evenly Spaced on the GSLC Banner Border Stars.
   
9. Use Embroidery Thread-TriColor Red, White, Blue and Needle to Connect the  GSLC Star Medallions to the GSLC Banner Border Stars.
   
   
   

Final Thoughts

Holidays for  the introverts of the world can be particularly challenging. In addition to uncomfortable conversations with strangers at the neighborhood cookout, the holidays can disrupt all the routines you've set up in your life to take care of yourself-the stay at home stare at walls and binge on Netflix days, leaving you with feelings of being trapped or unable to get the alone time necessary to recharge your introvert batteries.

So what an introvert to do if they are going to try and extrovert for the holiday:

• Go to the picnic-but don’t stay for the day. 
• Have a quiet get together at your home.
• Watch the fireworks, parades online if you are so inclined for nostalgia reasons.
• Take mini-holidays or staycations, it’s okay to pamper yourself.
  
  
  
  

It might be hard to believe that not everyone celebrates the good ole 4th of July. As Americans it doesn’t mean those people are not patriotic but maybe they're not into a day revolving around hot dogs, beer binging, and loud fireworks.

Other countries also have vibrant, diverse, fun -filled celebrations of their found freedoms around the world.

From the article: Independence Day Celebrations Around the World 

• India has “Fifteenth of August Day”

Since India was freed from British rule in 1947, the Fifteenth of August has become a national holiday filled with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades, and patriotic songs. Every year on this day, Indian skies become speckled with colorful flying kites of all shapes and sizes. When it comes to India's Independence Day cuisine, families and friends indulge in tri-color food dishes, which feature orange, white, and green - the colors of the national flag!

• South Africa has "Freedom Day"

While South Africa declared its independence from Britain on May 31, 1910, the country celebrates a very special day in late April as "Freedom Day." Why? Well, on April 27, 1994, the first democratic, non-racial elections were held and Nelson Mandela was voted president.
This day marks the end of colonialism and apartheid, the restoration of human rights, and the liberation of South Africa and its people! While it's undoubtedly a day of mixed emotions, South Africans celebrate their unity and diversity with parties, inspirational speeches, and braais (barbecues).

• Mexico has "Dia de la Independencia"

On September 15th. Many people think Mexico’s Independence Day was on Cinco de Mayo.Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not really Mexico's Independence Day. On the night of September 15th, Mexicans take to the streets and begin to memorialize the Grito de Dolores, the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence.
For a full 24 hours, from the night of the 15th to the 16th, Mexico becomes one big party of parades, food, concerts, and fireworks. Traditionally, festivities start in Zocalo Square, Mexico City, where Mexico's president recites the cry of patriotism, and to which the enthusiastic crowd responds “Viva!"

• France has "Bastille Day"

Each year, France commemorates the day when, in 1789, just under one thousand Parisians stormed the Bastille fortress to release prisoners and free the country from tyrannical oppression. This pivotal event catalyzed the French Revolution! Since 1880, July 14th has been deemed a public holiday called "Bastille Day”
On July 14th, the French wake up to a day of no work and all play. In Paris, the day kicks off with a military parade on the Champs Elysees and ends with fireworks over the Eiffel Tower. But don't worry - there's tons of partying in between! It's a France-wide tradition to attend a Firemen's Gala on Bastille Day. All throughout the country, fire stations open their doors to the public for a jolly good time of dancing and drinking!

• Norway has “Syttende Mai” Day on May 17th

On Constitution Day, Norwegians wake up to the sound  of marching bands, the sights of parades and traditional "bunad" costumes, and the creamy sweetness of ice cream -a lot of ice cream. Commemorating the signing of the constitution in 1814, Constitution Day, or the "17th of May," is by far the country's biggest party.
Another yummy Constitution Day tradition, besides copious amounts of ice cream, is the "17th of May breakfast." Often a big happy potluck with friends and neighbors, this kick-off meal consists of favorites like fresh bread, eggs, smoked salmon - and lots of champagne, of course.

As noted in these holidays no matter where you are from or your country of origin there are reasons to celebrate your freedoms.

Supplies:  GSLC Star Medallions , GSLC Banner Border Strips, Red, White, Blue, Gold, Yellow Acrylic Paints, Stencil Butter Blue and Red, Paintbrush, Embroidery Thread-TriColor Red, White, Blue, Needle, Small Hole Punch, Scissors 

I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!

Don’t Step on a Bee Day-A Peek-a-Boo Project

I love how everything has its own special day. I am betting this is one that many of you may not have heard of or celebrated. Today July 10, 2024 is Don’t Step on aBee Day. It is observed every year on July 10 in the United Kingdom. Bees have been around for centuries and are closely related to wasps. They are mostly found in every part of the world that has insect-pollinated flowering plants. Bees are essential to our survival and play a big role in balancing our ecosystem. They are great pollinators, produce honey, and give us food. This day marks the importance of the existence of these insects and the work that they do.

As most Americans are celebrating our freedom from British Rule this time of year I thought this would be a nice non partisan way to celebrate this little known holiday to us. This is the inspiration for this artwork.

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Use UHU Glue stick to attach Magazine images to GSLC Little Niche Sun Burst Pieces.
   
3. Trim with Scissors.
   
4. Use Nail File to Smooth off Edges.
   
5. Put Bottom of GSCL Little Niche Together with Glue and Washi Tape. Secure with Clips on Edges if Necessary.
6. Add Washi Tape Details to Top Portion of GLSC Little Niche.
   
   
7. Use UHU GlueStick to Add Magazine Scraps to This Portion Also.
   
8. Use Acrylic Paint of Your Choosing to Paint GSLC Honeycomb and Queen Bees ATC size. I Used Yellow, Iridescent Blue, Metallic Gold, Orange, Yellow, Green, WeldBond Glue.
   
9. Add Details with A Black Sharpie Pen.
10. Assemble Vignette for Inside Bottom Portion of GSLC Little Niche.
    
11. Attach Top Portion of GSLC Little Niche to Bottom Portion, Securing Again with Clips to Fully Dry.
    
12. Add Bee and Crown Details Once Dry to Outside of Niche Using WeldBond.

Final Thought

Almost every day of the year is linked to its own holiday or remembrance. I like these lesser known celebrations, it makes each day a bit more magical.

I wrote about this process in an essay titled, Death of a Dignity, it was about my love/hate relationship with Martha Stewart. In Part 

“Last night I dreamt I danced at Martha Stewart's funeral. A rather odd dream if left unexamined. Most people have a love/hate relationship with their idols. I love Martha Stewart for her interesting ideas, she celebrated the eclectic. She was the first person who told me it didn't have to match. She took ordinary items and made them extraordinary, a motto I have tried to live by. She made a habit trying to look for the "good things" in life. She rescued treasures from tag sale. She celebrated the obscure occasions; traveled to exotic locales. She was an underdog who had made it big. Hers was the Cinderella story, from the one bedroom apartment to several estates in prominent neighborhoods; from the one serving the guests to being the host of her own lavish parties, having a staff that would come to her beck and call. She had become a celebrity.

I loved all these things about Martha and so much more. The joke at many of my gatherings would go something like this "Wouldn't Martha be proud?" or "Look out Martha, Jon David is in town!" or "Martha has nothing on ME!””

I admire and respect Martha Stewart; some days I even envy her. But, last night I dreamt I danced at her funeral not because I am mentally disturbed. I danced in celebration of what she stood for and what I had become. I danced for my freedom and her forced exit. I danced to remember. I danced to forget. And as I danced I was reminded that I too with her wealth, and along with her crews of thousand, I could also create her over the top magical moments and huge productions.

But, as I lay my "floral arrangement of the month" upon her graveside I was also reminded that I can turn an apple into a tart, a book into a memory, a card into a collection, a dreary day into a dawning, an eggplant into an exotic centerpiece, a fig into a fabulous dessert, a gathering into gladness, a host into a friend, an icicle into a winter montage, juice into sangria, kelp into a California roll, a letter into a legacy, a map into a mural, an ordinary occasion into a celebration, a pear can be poached and become breakfast, a quest an incredible adventure, a raven may even become my pet, a stove is a gallery, a table a conversation piece, a universe gets captured on my bathroom walls, a vase becomes a vision, a wall is turned into a wonderland, a Xerox is easily transformed into stationary, and, given the opportunity I could even find a few interesting uses for a zebra.

So come and dance at Martha Stewart's funeral. Dance not because you are disturbed, but, come dance because each of us need to know who we can become if given the opportunity.  But most of all come dance because it is time to say goodbye to all those fears that entrap you and dream once again. So Good Night my sweet Martha. Keep growing and learning because we love the way you show us to look at our world through new eyes.

The essay can be read in its full here: Death of a Dignity

If we have eyes to see let us see the bits of beauty that surrounds us each and every blessed day.

Other Blogs I have written about bees:

Bees in August

Saving the Bees 

Supplies: GSLC Little Niche Sun Burst, GSLC Honeycomb & Queen Bees ATC Sized, Magazine Images, UHU GlueStick, Scissors, Nail File, Washi Tape, Acrylic Paint, Yellow, Iridescent Blue, Metallic Gold, Orange, Yellow, Green, WeldBond Glue, paintbrush, Sharpie Pen

I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!

Gone Fishin’- A Peek-a-Boo Project

A neighbor lady likes to say “Fishing is the greatest excuse in the world to do nothing” I’ve never been a fan of fishing but my grandpappies, Da, Ralph and Frank were dabblers of the sport. Maybe if the fish were a bit more colorful than the rainbow trouts we’d catch I’d be a bit more intrigued. These are the inspirations for this artwork.

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Trace Back of GSLC Arabian Triptych on Colorful Magazine Images. 
   
3. Rip and Tear Magazine Images Gluing to SLC Arabian Triptych Back.
   
4. Find Fish and Coral Images in Sticker Books to Use in Collages.
   
5. Fussy Cut and Use a Blue Highlighter on Edges.
   
6. Use DuraClear Matte Gel Medium to Secure Pieces to Back Portion Of GSLC Arabian Triptych. 
   
7. While Still Wet Sprinkle with Iridescent Glitter Sparingly.
   
8. Paint Upper Portion of GSLC Arabian Triptych Frames with Ocean Blue and Turquoise Stencil Butter. Globing on.
   
9. Add Patina with Green Acrylic Paints.
   
10. Glue Upper Portion of GSLC Arabian Triptych Frames to the Back Prepared Portions with WeldBond.
    
11. Once Fully Dry add a Layer of Rangers Glossy Accents Finish to the Inside Frames.
    

Final Thoughts:

Rainbow Trout were definitely a colorful fish, along with its Golden Rainbow bothers, and Brook, Brown and Lake trout cousins. Each with own distinct color palate . They are also related to the salmon. They preferred the colder area of the streams hiding near the riffles.

Catfish were caught in deeper channels  and are bottom-dwelling opportunistic carnivores. We were told that catfish whiskers could stings but it might be an old wives tale.

Perch, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, a Sunfish and Bluegills, Suckers and  Crappies could also be caught if you knew the right fishing holes. On the rarest of occasions even a freshwater eel were a found delicacy.

I was more of a crick wader. I did enjoy hunting for Hellgrammites used for bait on sharp fishhooks. In Summertime we gather our wading boots or old sneaker, fishing net, a plastic bucket and off to the crick we would go. We’d head to our manmade dams, one person downstream the others picking up the placed rocks and shuffling downstream towards the nets. Our family also caught night crawlers after the spring rains and would keep them in a washbasin in the dirt cellar of our family farmhouse. 

Inside Appalachia Podcast reminds me of my Childhood Home: In Old School Fly Fishing Rods they meet craftsman who builds exquisite, handmade fly rods and shares his fishing with others.Inside Appalachia tells the stories of our people, and how they live today. The show is an audio tour of our rich history, food, music and culture.

Fishing Quotes:

"The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad." —A.K. Best

“A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.” —Samuel Johnson

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." —Henry David Thoreau

“I go fishing not to find myself but to lose myself.” —Joseph Monninger

Supplies: GSLC Arabian Triptych, Colorful Magazine Pictures, Pen,WeldBond Glue,Fish Images from Sticker Books, Blue HighLighter, DuraClear Matte Gel Medium, Paintbrush, Iridescent Glitter, Ocean Blue and Turquoise Stencil Butter, Green Acrylic Paints, Rangers Glossy Accents Finish

I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!