tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224567802024-03-14T04:02:51.784-07:00Confessions of a Crafty CroneBy Corrine Bayraktaroglu
jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.comBlogger1611125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-66071710815625485762024-02-19T11:41:00.000-08:002024-02-19T11:42:06.774-08:00Does creativity really disappear as we age? It seems we could find several theories to support yes or no. The strongest direction is that we do and I can see why but it seems to depend on the long term consequences of creativity, some which are learned , some due to circumstances, personality, professional success that locks us into certain output and style,and then physical limitations, economic, and emotional limitations and jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-60130943988460456822024-02-14T16:03:00.000-08:002024-02-14T16:03:50.609-08:00Creativity: the art of dithering Sometimes creativity just doesn’t happen the way I expect it to. I want to draw, or paint or make a polymer critter and instead I dither about. I’ve learned not to fight dithering about because it’s in the dithering that’s ideas percolate. Oh I love that word DITHERING. It means in slang to act nervously or indecisively but my usage is more related to indecisively , like all jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-58982609360795434402024-02-10T12:19:00.000-08:002024-02-10T12:19:21.547-08:00Whisker Worthy: Drawing a World of Whimsy Hurry, Hurry little miceThrough the winters forest’s snow and iceScampering, scurrying, with tiny pawsTo reach their cozy homes with no pauseThrough the frozen trees they swiftly dartTheir fur ruffled, their breaths a puffFinally they see their home and their little hearts beat with gleeAs they scurry towards it, wild and freeSoon they’re gathered by the fireTheir little bodies warm and jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-4800401897748479542024-02-02T09:55:00.000-08:002024-02-02T09:55:01.473-08:00Cheddar Hall Diaries: polymer clay adventures Goodness it’s been a while since I’ve posted on this blog. What is it, maybe just over 2 years. Since then a lot of hiking, reading, coffee shop bumming, traveling, painting, drawing, embroidery, chasing of grandchildren here in Arizona and Ohio.Well HELLO! Cheddar HallLast year I became enamored with making polymer clay mice and creating a room with various scenes that tell jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-75051561144510815352021-03-15T16:25:00.003-07:002021-03-15T16:25:56.270-07:00Monday Vibes: SInging At Donuts and Weird Cyanotype Embroidery As we waited at the traffic light a woman in the next car was holding a delish looking donut and singing to it with a flourish and such exuberance I couldn't stop staring. I can't explain why but it made me so happy. Maybe it's because I can't eat a donut (still working on the last 10lbs) or that her joy was unpretentious and infectious. Whatever it was it was a moment I enjoyed.STUDIO jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-33275263191561062592021-01-28T08:03:00.000-08:002021-01-28T08:03:21.288-08:00Hope and a Renaissance: Upbeat Pandemic MuralsSeems like an oxymoron to have these two words together, upbeat and pandemic, but I do like the message in this article "I wanted to give hope" by these mural artists.artist and photo by Corie MattieWe have our work cut out for us because we must deal with the plague within politics also. im working on the renaissance part jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-9353271088815547382021-01-18T16:02:00.002-08:002021-01-18T16:02:52.546-08:00So Much For 2021: Pins and Needles I'm not talking about the one's in my studio either. The start of this year has been a horror show and it isn't done yet. We have the inauguration to get through. How to create a mood of contentment and wellness when we are on pins and needles along with the ongoing covid horror is going to be a difficult task. It helps that when I work on my sewing my hands are busy and I am jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-70098111287454873242020-12-31T07:07:00.004-08:002020-12-31T07:07:57.706-08:00Into The Future 2021 This time we sort of know what we are heading into, or at least we hope we do. A new way of living was formed during the pandemic restrictions and the severe limitations we faced during a brutally dry hot summer in Pheonix. I’m hopeful that the lessons learned during 2020 fare me well for next year. I decided the New Year starts with a clean studio with old and new projectsjafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-52148423170011364872020-12-24T13:14:00.001-08:002020-12-24T13:14:10.575-08:00Pandemic Christmas and not feeling it BUT If there is anything I've learned from the many Christmases Past which for one reason or another have been difficult due to loss, poverty, abuse, estrangement, lack of family around etc is to create my OWN magic.This year has been a BEAR!So out came the paper, scissors and tape.The room is covered with snowflakes and paperchains lol!This is what happens when I watch the movie ELF HAH!jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-90236208051262463682020-11-28T15:01:00.005-08:002020-11-28T15:13:51.384-08:00Reclaiming The Zest for Life During a PandemicSome call it Joie de vivre, or enthusiasm/zest for life. Even if you do have a “zest personality” it’s not easy when circumstances crush your spirit, and trying to reclaim it can become an exhausting effort in itself. Still there are some helpful tips and tricks, if not to fully reclaim your zest then cope.Usury Park Trail Phoenix Arizona Van Gogh said “Art is to console those jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-14312896440498754002020-11-21T15:47:00.002-08:002020-11-21T15:47:15.916-08:00Fighting Off the Creative Block It's a curse I tell ya, a CURSE! It's something so many creatives face, but it's more than a lack of inspiration, in fact I don't think I lack inspiration as much as losing confidence. Yes, I am admitting or confessing I have lost my creative confidence. It's really disturbing. Which is why I've ventured into doing something out of my comfort zone. I'm enjoying the process, but jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-21685674750657052752020-10-27T08:54:00.000-07:002020-10-27T08:54:05.543-07:00Pandemic and Election Nightmares During the day I’m fine. I keep happily engaged in art, reading, hiking, etc and enjoy a pleasant home life. However my subconscious must be working overtime trying to make sense of the continuing theatre of the absurd daily trotted out by the news. If you are having election nightmares too you’re not alone according to the Huffington Post or pandemic dreams article in the jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-51013892018060600522020-10-15T11:11:00.001-07:002020-10-15T11:11:16.618-07:00Pine Cone Crafts or is it Pine Crone Crafts Hah! I made a pun 😉 Just dab paint on the cone and sprinkle with glitter and Ta Da, a nice little display or attach ribbons and hang up. I did find a nice spot for one cone in the cactus pot with my painted sticks.Pretty simple huh! Here are some other ideas from Home BNC. jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-20676510608234208322020-10-10T11:02:00.000-07:002020-10-10T11:02:11.393-07:00Desperate Distractions: Painted Stones Yes, desperate because it's turmoil out there, roiling with political unrest, social unrest , fear, anguish, and toss in the pandemic, Ugh! As the news gets worse my need for distractions increases, and I find myself immersed in art that doesn’t require large blocks of time or concentration. I can doodle on a stone for a hour or five minutes, pick up doodle some more and take my sweetjafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-36715609011779223782020-10-05T05:57:00.000-07:002020-10-05T05:57:56.360-07:00Cleaning up the Chaos with Jackson Pollock
Except the painting in my blog header is NOT a Jackson Pollock and that is not me or Pollock.
It is in fact a photoshopped image of a painting my bestie and I did in the style of Pollock back in 2006 for a workshop my bestie was running.
I felt the header helps illustrate the desperate effort to try and clean up the chaos that is 2020 or at the very least jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-81793806489792183662020-10-03T05:00:00.002-07:002020-10-03T05:00:07.525-07:00The Skeleton in the Closet
As I mentioned in a previous post I changed my blog title to meet the new needs of a new norm that this pandemic life has thrust upon us all. So what skeleton do I have in the closet?
While confession implies some deep dark secret, I’m sorry to disappoint you, although I do have an actual skeleton in my closet, but no deep dark secrets.
No, the reality is me jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-61090280662109222752020-10-01T05:00:00.011-07:002020-10-01T05:00:05.788-07:00How to Keep Healthy During a Pandemic Besides avoiding people like the plague.There is an article on CNN that shows what happens to your body over months of isolation. As a crone I didn't really need to read this to know the importance of getting out and exercising but it certainly is a healthy reminder of what happens if we don't.For me keeping healthy means hiking.However that is easier said than done when you live in jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-63787647371169737992020-09-29T09:23:00.001-07:002020-09-29T09:23:14.885-07:00Pumpkin Chicken Curry But Skip The Pie
I didn't see an actual pumpkin until I came to America in 78 and my first taste, a pumpkin pie, left me cold . So I was never a fan of anything pumpkin, that is until I tried this recipe. I love a curry so when I saw a recipe for Pumpkin Chicken Curry by Heather Christo I thought I’d give it a go and WOW did it become my absolute seasonal favourite.
Confession
I’m still not a fan jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-71778034714851918372020-09-28T14:45:00.000-07:002020-09-28T14:45:08.376-07:00Halloween Tree During Shambolic PandemicSince 2020 is a shambolic pandemic nightmare that’s ruined everything we normally enjoy I decided why the heck not change it up a bit. Yes I know it's only September BUT, and I don't know about you, I need to grab every miniscule of joy I can.
While visiting in Ohio on Nana duty I dragged out the Christmas Tree and we turned it into a Halloween Tree. Boy did my 3 year old jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-29306833744125449102020-09-26T12:52:00.003-07:002020-09-26T12:52:46.548-07:00Stop Telling Women to Embrace Grey Hair If my hair looked like this I'd ♥ it, but my hair doesn't look like this. Seriously what is with the peer pressure, the attempts at shaming and lecturing that we should embrace gray hair. I've tried several times over the past 5 years to go grey but I end up looking like a bat from hell ready to take off. I don't have a pretty grey either, it makes me look jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-30152953336527699212020-09-24T14:48:00.001-07:002020-09-25T06:55:28.432-07:00confessions of a creative crone
Well my first confession is that I have once again changed the title of my blog. As life has changed since I first started this blog 14 years ago so have my needs as an artist/creative and now as an older woman.
To say that life has taken a dramatic turn is a major understatement. We are in the middle of a pandemic, a national crisis politically and socially in the United jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-29162174949069370592020-08-22T10:04:00.000-07:002020-08-22T10:04:11.329-07:00Covid 19: The Daily Grind
How does one get through the unending trap we find ourselves in?
Reverse Painting on Plastic by Corrine Bayraktaroglu
With temperatures ranging from 100 to 118 degrees in Arizona we can't just go take a walk. We have none of the usual escapes from the heat because the theatres, libraries, museums, restaurants are closed. We no longer take road trips that require a night at a jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-42161567106115333312020-08-18T15:27:00.000-07:002020-08-18T15:27:04.710-07:00What Does Gratitude During A Pandemic Have to do With Art?
A lot for me because art has always been my refuge, my solace, my playground, my joy, my meditation. I'm so grateful for that and knowing that through thick and thin I can turn to art to see me through. If forced isolation and solitude makes us confront the essence of who we are then I’ve found that and am grateful for it.
Daily Sketchbook Doodles
There is a lot of medical research jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-6533843150772467232020-08-15T11:54:00.005-07:002020-08-18T15:27:40.380-07:00Art During the Time of Covid and Isolation
I suppose I could say I've had some practice becoming an isolated artist since moving to Arizona in 2018, but the isolation from covid, along with the political turmoil is something else. Having an online art tribe with the camaraderie and friendship that goes with that was a comfort that has now become compromised by all the painful distractions. So I find myself isolated in a way I never jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22456780.post-84030811316296379002020-05-13T14:07:00.002-07:002020-05-13T14:07:31.503-07:00Once a Cancer Patient, always a Cancer Patient
Even though I survived breast cancer the reality is that I'm STILL a cancer patient. You are never out of the woods when you've had cancer. The fear of it still lurks deep in the forest and we may be at the edge or just outside of it but we always have to watch that forest.
So I still have to take meds, still have to take and retake blood tests and still have a ct scan every six jafabrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04490900607853203086noreply@blogger.com2