Ok, Millie is back with new focus!

Or I'm still focusing the same really - just more intent.

I took a long look at how I was working on my art, my Etsy, my creative plans. If you see my work space, my supplies, you would see what I consider my creative chaos. And it was beginning to feel chaotic. What is Ok, Millie? What is my purpose, my focus, my mission statement for what I create? I make so many different things, and that's how I like it!

So, how do I combine all these ideas into one plan and focus?

Then it clicked. My purpose is re-purposing! Every item I create has at least one piece that has been re-purposed or contains a recycled material. I don't want all these wonderful things to end up in a landfill or worse, just littering the ground somewhere. Sure, I buy basics at craft stores and online - but my main source of materials are second hand stores like Goodwill, art surplus stores and gifts of art supplies from friends even!

This motivation goes back to my grandparents. From the generation who lived through the Great Depression - saving everything was essential to them. As I grew up, I saw that they never wasted anything. I still remember stacks of magazines in their homes; and I am ever thankful because those stacks gave me some amazing school projects. (National Geographic is a wonderful resource for rich pictures for a fifth grader, just for the record).

Now that stack of magazines is surrounded by old board game pieces, half full bottles of paint and glitter from art surplus stores, and a myriad of other reclaimed items waiting to be re-purposed into art, jewelry and other gifts!

Going forward, here is what I will be focusing on in the blog:

• What's new in the Etsy shop, and what I'm working on
• Creative ideas I'm trying out from other websites - things you can make too!
• Shopping adventures to re-claim more materials!
• Other cool ideas - including my favorite - meals that are easy and healthy (and some that can cook while you get to spend more time in the studio- or meals that turn into works of art)

I really hope you will join me on this adventure! Saving the planet and making really cool stuff along the way! 

Pack Rat 365 Day 9

Yes, after a very very long break - I have picked up where I left off with Pack Rat 365.  Here we go with Day 9!

Take a five minute walk and make something with whatever materials are available - and leave it there.

Wait...what?  This means I can't use my pack rat skills! Still, challenge accepted.
I decided to walk to the local library, since it's about five minutes from my house and make something as I left.

There were plenty of things I could use to create with - but I didn't want to wreck any plants in gardens, or take things that weren't mine.  I'm sure that the author didn't have that in mind with this challenge.

But there were rocks....lots of rocks.  And I actually collect stones, minerals and rocks.  Hey..that works!

So I picked up a handful of stones and created this....

It actually took me some time to configure the stones so it resembled a heart shape and not some crazy blob.  I hope whoever saw this after I created it got a smile from it.  

Side-note - yes that's rain you see.  That's dedication I tell you.  Even after I walked home, the rain didn't get too bad.  It's springtime and I love the rain. And the library. And rocks!  It's all about the love. 

Pack Rat 365 - Day 8!

Today was definitely a challenge....make something out of my breakfast.  For those that know me well, breakfast really isn't part of the norm for me.  I do, however, have a lot of super early morning snacks when I'm working late on crafting.

Today's inspiration (and also a couple snacks I definitely hoard)

Celery and peanut butter! I can't go a couple days without eating this stuff! So, in theory I pack rat these snacks....with the exception that I do eat them before the shelf life expiration...don't worry.

I used the celery and peanut butter as kind of a structure with mortar in this little experiment.  The almonds were more of added embellishment....of what kind, I'm not too sure. So I got to building....and here's what I ended up with:

I think it's a house..of some sort.  The almonds are the hedges, with one at the top for.....the weather vane! Yep, that's it.  And that's about it for this creation...as I finish this blog, I am consuming the remainders of the celery structure. 

Back to Pack Rat 365 - Day 7!

So I had a lot of catching up to do and a long week full of busy.  I made the executive decision to re-start today.  Day 7!

Today's challenge was to transform an old book.  Since I have an overwhelming amount of composition notebooks that I use for various journaling purposes - I decided to transform one into something more fun - and also so I won't have to look inside each one to figure out the one I'm looking for in a sea of black and white marble.

Before:

My tools: scissors, paper trimmer, paper, ribbons, stickers, mod podge and the plain looking notebook just screaming for a makeover.  I cut some paper to fit the front cover, added some accents, and also some ribbon attached to the back so I could tie the book together. 

The finished product:

I love this book now!  

And what did I use that was a pack-rat item?  Well I've had the scrapbook items for about six months now...so I'm glad I started actually using them.  That ribbon you see?  I salvaged it last year from an Ann Taylor shopping bag (that wasn't even mine either...free ribbon is some of the best ribbon!) Again - let's not talk about how many composition notebooks I have floating around the house.  Perhaps I can get them all customized so I can distinguish them from one another and put them to use more often! 

See you tomorrow!

Pack Rat 365 Catch Up - Day 5 & 6!

Days 5 and 6 both done, just took some getting around to post them!

Day 5 - Make something from a collection.
Hah! What don't I collect - this is a pack rat project after all!  I looked all around for one certain collection to inspire something creative, but nothing that would be super easy to create from.   I wanted to challenge myself a little.  Tucked in a little dish on a desk is part of my collection of old coins.  I have all sorts of old change - like wheat pennies and such.  I took up a handful and decided to make something with them.

The old coin rainbow! Why look to the end of it, when the treasure is right there?

Next up - Friday - Day 6.

Make something from a stencil. 

First I had to make myself a stencil.  I have some, but I thought about carving out my own. 

I sketched out a star and carved it out with my x-acto (and managed not to hurt myself in the process - yay!)

But what to do with the stencil?  My mission was clear....

I used my "Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist" to spray through the stencil at random spots on the card. I let the ink fall wherever, and didn't really try to be too precise with it.  Overall, the card came out beautiful I think.  I kind of like the randomness of it.

So that's it for those two days.  Days 7 & 8 will be posted later tonight!

Enjoy!

Pack Rat 365 - Day 4!

I switched the routine a little bit today.  Today's goal or challenge was to walk into the kitchen and use the first fruit or vegetable I saw as a medium or inspiration.

That's it. Good old butternut squash sitting on the counter.  But how would I incorporate my pack rat tendencies and make something out of it?  What collection could I go to?

I chose the ribbon and button collections I have sitting in the studio. Sure, I've used them in lots of projects, but I still so much that hasn't been used!

I'm not sure what to call her.  She's somewhere between classic burlesque squash and tutu-sporting roller derby squash.  

Now that I made this, I have come to the realization that her destruction is imminent.  I haven't eaten butternut squash in a while - but her memory will live on in my blog! Back tomorrow with more!

Pack Rat 365 - Day 3!

I'll admit - so far this hasn't been too tough.  The guidelines have been easy enough to follow...until today.

Make something from paper - no glue, scissors or writing anything on it.  Part one - easy! I love all sorts of paper crafts....but what?? No glue! No scissors! No writing!

I picked out a small piece of handmade paper first to think of something creative I could make with it.  But what about the pack rat part? Then a little idea crept in.

I collect pens.  Not the nice pens you buy as a souvenir (well I have those too).  I somehow carry pens off from everywhere - work, stores, you name it!  I chose to spruce one up a little bit with this piece of paper.

First I rolled up the paper and put it inside the top end of the pen.  I left about two inches of paper sticking out and ripped strips of the paper down to the end of the pen.  After that process was finished, I curled a few by rolling them around a pencil.  

Now there's a less boring looking pen in my collection!  Just imagine what I could do with some glue and scissors! More on the way tomorrow!