I wasn't sure what to write about for this post because I'm feeling excited to go back to ceramics and hadn't felt like I had made much art this summer to share. I came to a realization that while what I've been up to isn't necessarily art, I am still creating. I feel like it's always important to remind myself that being creative can look like a million different things and that sometimes the most impactful part is not the end result but rather the process.
Over the past few weeks I've made: hand sewn drawstring bags for my tarot cards, pickles, a Black Forest Cake from scratch, focaccia bread, and hung some herbs to dry that I've grown in my garden. These are the little things I love to do. I feel so proud to make stuff by hand when I can and while sewing, cooking, baking and gardening are not something that everyone would consider art, I find myself feeling a very similar way when I complete these projects compared to after finishing a painting or a ceramic piece.
I feel like it's always important to remind myself that being creative can look like a million different things and that sometimes the most impactful part is not the end result but rather the process.
Making these drawstring bags was fun as well as a learning experience since I have not sewn anything since middle school. I made it a bit harder on myself by choosing to add lace fabric over the velvet but I think it was worth it in the end because I love how they came out. I feel that putting your tarot cards in a special bag or box is a great way to honor them and was excited to take the extra step to make the bags myself. The template and video I found on YouTube was extremely helpful and easy to follow. It also did not take much material at all. I can see myself making more of these bags in the future
Another little project I worked on was making pickles. I love pickles and have made them a few times now. My favorite method is a "quick pickle" because I don't have a boil the jars or wait to open them for a month. With this method I just add the brine to the cucumbers and put them into the fridge! They last about 3 weeks and are so crunchy!
I somehow ended up being the cake baker of my family. So whenever there has been a birthday this year I've made the cake from scratch. It hits 2 birds with one stone since it is also my gift to them. I've made Chocolate Cake with Whipped Mocha Icing, Lemon Berry Mascarpone Cake and most recently (pictured) a Black Forest Cake. My favorite part about this one was making the cherry filling with fresh cherries. I took a while to take all of the pits out but I think it was worth it in the end.
This summer I tried my hand at making bread for the first time. I feel like focaccia bread is the perfect way to dip your toes into the world of bread making because it's fairly easy to make. The hardest part is waiting for the dough to rise for the correct amount of time. The best part is decorating it. I made this one for a little Summer Solstice gathering that I hosted and decided to make a sun mandala on top with various veggies and herbs. This was so fun to make, delicious and there is nothing better than the smell of bread baking in the oven. Now that I've made this I hope to attempt sourdough bread in the future.
Lastly I made this simple little contraption with a stick and some twine so that I can pick herbs and hang them from it to dry. Sometimes it's the little things that bring the most joy because I love to look at it and I also get a nice whiff of the herbs when I am close by.
I'm happy that I had the time to create things like this because once the fall semester starts back up I will be much more focused on making things in ceramics as well as Painting II and Figure Drawing, all of which I am so excited for. Can't wait to share with you all what I create this semester!
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