Don’t worry. I’m still going to share my mixed media panic attack story with you. The last thing I want to do is add more anxiety to your life by creating undue anticipation. However, this simply could not wait.
That is a problem because I am trying to find the right balance between topics. Paper Calliope is mainly about the art of mixed media, altered art and paper crafting. However, at last count, there were one million and forty-seven crafting blogs. Trust me on this. I know. I counted.* We don’t need one million and forty-eight.
That’s why I want to bring a fresh approach by recognizing how both the act of creating and the beauty of finished art brings calm, joy and inspiration to our anxiety-ridden lives. As actress Stella Adler said, “Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.”
Paper Calliope is not Art 101
I seriously do not want to discuss angst and art. That sounds like some horribly depressing college freshman arts class. Instead, I want to bring a little light into our fight-or-flight-lives through crafting, scrapbooking, altered art and mixed media art.
Blurting may be an art form
I also want this to be fun, so that a smile finds a way to your face each day. And if Paper Calliope ever makes you laugh so hard that you blurt your beverage all over the place, I will have succeeded (but for Pete’s sake, blurt away from your keyboard and your art), .
So all of the preceding is really an interminable explanation of why I did not post about my most recent mixed media piece and instead posted a picture of the pickup that was in front of me at a stoplight this morning. You see, I found myself wondering if readers outside of snowy areas would know why this old pickup was hauling crisp white snow.
Please don’t go!
So if you find my ratio of non-craft to craft posts unacceptable, please don’t go. Hang tight a little bit longer. I have countless splendiferous craft projects in the works. I can’t wait to show you the crazy-awesome free item I scored right before I saw the truck, for which I want you to help brainstorm up an altered art project. You wont’t get to do that if you don’t come back.
And now to the truck and the lovechild
Have you thought of any plausible explanations for this? If you are from around here you have.
I can think of at least two. 1. When snow gets extra deep, some people have no yard space left to place it. In true Minnesota-Nice form they would rather haul it to a virgin snow sanctuary than put it over the property line and incur the wrath of neighbors. The Minnesota-Nice wrath includes askance glaring and passive-aggressive grumbling. 2. Every year some talented artists create sculptures out of ice and snow during Saint Paul’s Winter Carnival. This takes extra snow. Somebody has to bring it to them. Why not this guy?
I would love to hear your reasonings for this truck, but I don’t dare. Despite any alleged lovechild claims**,I haven’t gained the kind of readership that those mamas inspire. Quite possibly, no one would answer me.
What’s more, the question just got harder, because as I passed the pickup, I saw the signage on its side offering free catering and delivery. In what possible scenario could a caterer deliver snow? Don’t try to fool me by answering tabletop ice sculptures. This is snow, people, not ice.
* This is a lie.
**For Heaven’s sake, please don’t sue me or throw me in jail. I adore all three of you and just want to make people, including you, smile. Besides, you can’t get blood from a stone and if you throw me in prison it’s slightly possible that they won’t allow me to use my X-Acto knife and hot glue gun. If you or your lawyers want me to take this out, just let me know. Feel free to include some swag.
Hilarious! This was so much fun to read. I totally forgot about the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. It has been forever since I was in Minnesota in the winter time.
How’s your craft room coming along? Are you about ready to get back in there?
Leslie
Thanks Leslie! 🙂 The Winter Carnival was ridiculously cold this year. Unbearable really. The painting in the studio is done, so yes I am back in there. I keep renovating it a tiny bit at a time. One of these days I’ll post some pictures. I really appreciate your comments and enjoy visiting your site as well. -Betsy
All natural Snow Cones? In some cases they wouldn’t even have to add coloring.