Another birthday looms on the horizon
forgetting the wrinkles staring back
hiding the scales that tipped long ago
and ignoring the "I had 2 kids" waistline...
all I want is to be stronger.
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| Polyvore Art by laurel, August 1, 2015 |
Showing posts with label polyvore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label polyvore. Show all posts
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Monday, June 23, 2014
Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!
Technology addiction is a slippery slope - just ask the Candy Crushers, the Farm Town farmers, the Minecrafters, the online "Pokers". Once you get your first taste of victory, it's all over. And like the Apostle Paul who was humbled by his sins, I too admit that among the Techie Sinners of the world, I may not be "Chief" among you, but I'm right down there with you when it comes to Polyvore. I have burned more vegetables, left the house showerless and ignored my unmade bed countless times, all for the joy of creating a digital masterpiece on my computer.
In the Polyvore world, users form groups that you can join, theoretically with the same artistic predisposition as you. Most group owners sponsor contests, where there is some sort of theme or set requirement. Even huge corporations like Macy's and Wendy's sponsor contests...remember that the chief goal of Polyvore is to get you to buy fashions, jewelry, home goods and beauty products. Many groups have hundreds, even thousands of entries for a single contest. I haven't figured out how the game is played, or who decides who wins or why, but I enjoy the challenged of putting my spin on their rules.
And after four months of creating all manner of artistic sets, I finally "won" a prize in a contest. It wasn't first place, or even second. And it wasn't even a "big" contest - only 258 entries. But I won 7th Place! (Rather like getting a Lavender ribbon in a county fair sewing contest...) The contest theme was "FREE Woman!", and we were challenged to create a set that epitomized a free spirited woman. And being the conservative, traditional chicken that I am, what is more free than a woman who sports tattoos?
In the Polyvore world, users form groups that you can join, theoretically with the same artistic predisposition as you. Most group owners sponsor contests, where there is some sort of theme or set requirement. Even huge corporations like Macy's and Wendy's sponsor contests...remember that the chief goal of Polyvore is to get you to buy fashions, jewelry, home goods and beauty products. Many groups have hundreds, even thousands of entries for a single contest. I haven't figured out how the game is played, or who decides who wins or why, but I enjoy the challenged of putting my spin on their rules.
And after four months of creating all manner of artistic sets, I finally "won" a prize in a contest. It wasn't first place, or even second. And it wasn't even a "big" contest - only 258 entries. But I won 7th Place! (Rather like getting a Lavender ribbon in a county fair sewing contest...) The contest theme was "FREE Woman!", and we were challenged to create a set that epitomized a free spirited woman. And being the conservative, traditional chicken that I am, what is more free than a woman who sports tattoos?
"Too Chicken To Get a Tattoo"
Group: Fashion Madness
The irony of my thought process in creating this image is that, like my Polyvore addiction, I am told by a couple of women whom I love dearly that Tattoos are also addictive. That explains why we see so much "art work" on men and women these days...it's hard to just get one. And even though I have such appreciation for the artistry of this inked art, I just can't get past the thought of ending up in a skilled nursing facility bed sporting a sagging image of a blurry butterfly smeared across my backside.
Not that I would ever get a butterfly...I would want a hummingbird...or a Viking...maybe an image of Colette.
Yep, no tattoo for this girl.
Laurel. "Cluck, Cluck, Cluck..."
Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, March 31, 2014
Art Addiction...
I never really thought of myself as having an addictive personality. In the past, I associated that trait with the lesser accepted addictions such as alcohol and drugs. We tend to poo-poo these souls as weak, pathetic and out of control, when we ourselves have recurring behaviors than infiltrate our minds and bodies to the point of "addiction". Forget the endless list of minor disorders, tiny hang-ups and slight societal ills, is there such a thing as a "good" addiction? Is it socially okay to be obsessed with something?
My name is Laurel, and I am addicted to Polyvore. I started out with just a desire to find some cool fashions to re-create on my sewing machine. I would just spend a few minutes perusing the items and picking a few things to add to my wish list. I wasn't spending any actual money, so how could it be harmful? Before long, I discovered the joy of the drag and drop lifestyle, and I became hooked. I could pull in artistic elements - backgrounds, florals, smudges, flourishes, etc. - making my fashion choices look even more trendy and cool. People "Liked" my sets and I started getting followers. I found myself scouring the web - Pinterest, Tumblr, everywhere - to find new elements for my sets. My simple sets morphed into tiny works of art that had nothing to do with fashion at all. I confess that I have burned dinner once too often because I slipped back into the computer to work on a set and time got away with me, out of control, dragging and dropping the hours away. I am a Polyvore addict...I'm not proud of it, but at least I admit it.
They say that admitting your "problem" is the first step. But I say, there's another way to look at this. All of the great artists were obsessed with their creations, driven to leave a piece of themselves on a canvas or on a pile of clay or in the photography darkroom. To re-create the musings of our minds in some tangible medium is a gut-level reaction to the world around us. Whether we wile away the hours with "acceptable" hobbies like knitting, beading, teaching, cooking or gardening, there is a tortured artist in us all to some degree. The need to express ourselves is guttural reaction to life.
Don't bother trying to read anything into my art. I don't consider myself to be tortured, as in the artistic vein of a Toulouse-Lautrec, Truman Capote, Johnny Cash or Vincent VanGogh, but I will be bound forever to create beauty in some way. It is part of me, the way God created me. So burned green beans withstanding, I will keep on dragging and dropping in Polyvore...at least until I grow tired of it. All artist are highly susceptible to boredom, you know.
My name is Laurel, and I am addicted to Polyvore. I started out with just a desire to find some cool fashions to re-create on my sewing machine. I would just spend a few minutes perusing the items and picking a few things to add to my wish list. I wasn't spending any actual money, so how could it be harmful? Before long, I discovered the joy of the drag and drop lifestyle, and I became hooked. I could pull in artistic elements - backgrounds, florals, smudges, flourishes, etc. - making my fashion choices look even more trendy and cool. People "Liked" my sets and I started getting followers. I found myself scouring the web - Pinterest, Tumblr, everywhere - to find new elements for my sets. My simple sets morphed into tiny works of art that had nothing to do with fashion at all. I confess that I have burned dinner once too often because I slipped back into the computer to work on a set and time got away with me, out of control, dragging and dropping the hours away. I am a Polyvore addict...I'm not proud of it, but at least I admit it.
They say that admitting your "problem" is the first step. But I say, there's another way to look at this. All of the great artists were obsessed with their creations, driven to leave a piece of themselves on a canvas or on a pile of clay or in the photography darkroom. To re-create the musings of our minds in some tangible medium is a gut-level reaction to the world around us. Whether we wile away the hours with "acceptable" hobbies like knitting, beading, teaching, cooking or gardening, there is a tortured artist in us all to some degree. The need to express ourselves is guttural reaction to life.
Don't bother trying to read anything into my art. I don't consider myself to be tortured, as in the artistic vein of a Toulouse-Lautrec, Truman Capote, Johnny Cash or Vincent VanGogh, but I will be bound forever to create beauty in some way. It is part of me, the way God created me. So burned green beans withstanding, I will keep on dragging and dropping in Polyvore...at least until I grow tired of it. All artist are highly susceptible to boredom, you know.
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| Lost 2, by Laurel Dismukes - 2014 |
Laurel. Art addict.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Back on track...
There are so many things that I could say have gone "wrong" since the beginning of the year, but most of those would center around the almighty dollar (I would capitalize that, but that would officially make it an Idol...LOL!) slipping out of our hands!
I am pleased to say that I have crawled out of the pit (of sorts) and back at my life. I started a new eating regimen (Whole 30) that lasts for 30 days. Even though I don't officially observe the Lenten season, I feel that I am sacrificing during this pre-Easter season - no wine, no sugar, no potatoes, no dairy. And we all know which one of those is Laurel's Achilles' Heel! But alas, I'm on Day 10 today and I'm finally starting to feel kinda good!
I've been on a creative kick lately. I'm totally addicted to the collages that I can create on Polyvore, and I've been sewing as well.
I made this cool bag to use as a carry-on...I've started one for Fabric Lady and we will be blogging about the construction of our bags soon.
I had spent a great day with Suzan (aka FabricLady) at Stonemountain this month and came back with some great projects to start (for both of us!) I spent a day this past weekend cutting out fabric and getting it ready to sew.
And I found some treasures at Nasty Goodwill to repurpose. Colette loves this cute little beaded top that I just remade this morning.
And finally - not that I had anything to do with this - Dave has killed our lawn. Dead. Poor White Trash Lawn. But it's going to be fun to "repurpose" this yard this Summer!
- There was that little burp with our 10 year old refrigerator right before Superbowl - $400 later, it's purring again.
- Then a crown for Dave and a crown for me (and I'm not talking about the kind you wear on your head)...I think I should be a dentist - over $2,500
- How 'bout that swimming pool pump that decided it'd had enough? $1,500. Then of course those fancy giant cartridges that fit inside the pool filter decided that the new pump was too much for them - $400.
- Did I mention an incident with a large rock colliding with the running board on Dave's truck? Can't even go there...
I am pleased to say that I have crawled out of the pit (of sorts) and back at my life. I started a new eating regimen (Whole 30) that lasts for 30 days. Even though I don't officially observe the Lenten season, I feel that I am sacrificing during this pre-Easter season - no wine, no sugar, no potatoes, no dairy. And we all know which one of those is Laurel's Achilles' Heel! But alas, I'm on Day 10 today and I'm finally starting to feel kinda good!
I've been on a creative kick lately. I'm totally addicted to the collages that I can create on Polyvore, and I've been sewing as well.
I made this cool bag to use as a carry-on...I've started one for Fabric Lady and we will be blogging about the construction of our bags soon.
I had spent a great day with Suzan (aka FabricLady) at Stonemountain this month and came back with some great projects to start (for both of us!) I spent a day this past weekend cutting out fabric and getting it ready to sew.
And I found some treasures at Nasty Goodwill to repurpose. Colette loves this cute little beaded top that I just remade this morning.
And finally - not that I had anything to do with this - Dave has killed our lawn. Dead. Poor White Trash Lawn. But it's going to be fun to "repurpose" this yard this Summer!
Laurel. Back on track, and feeling Blessed.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Under Venus' Spell
Digital Art is challenging, to say the least. I have been messing with my Photoshop Elements, Pic Monkey and Polyvore to try to create a digital art work.
Here is my first attempt...a collage of elements put together in the Polyvore application. Unfortunately, I haven't mastered or have an idea how to master creating a digital art work in a stand alone program...don't even know where to start. Meanwhile, I at least figured how to import some of my manipulated photos into the Polyvore app, and was able to create this, my first piece of work.
Any ideas or suggestions...I think I'm addicted to the process...
Here is my first attempt...a collage of elements put together in the Polyvore application. Unfortunately, I haven't mastered or have an idea how to master creating a digital art work in a stand alone program...don't even know where to start. Meanwhile, I at least figured how to import some of my manipulated photos into the Polyvore app, and was able to create this, my first piece of work.
Any ideas or suggestions...I think I'm addicted to the process...
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Magical Impulse...
I entered a contest at Polyvore...to create a set using fashions from Macy's...the "Polyvores" are all so creative so I doubt I'll win, but hey, it was fun to take a stab at it!!
Meanwhile, I may have to go get this skirt.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Climbing out...
It started with a kiss,
a tender peck on the cheek
filled with hidden danger.
Scrubbing hands,
endless drops of sanitizer
could not alter its course.
Coughing, dripping
sweaty nights of sleeplessness
his cold engulfed me...
Hacking...
Hacking...
Enough already! I think my pity party is ending and I am climbing out of a month long hole. It's funny how sickness overwhelms our souls and we are immobilized, even to the point of depression. I haven't done much in the past month, but Spring is calling and I don't want to be found wanting.
But it's not like I haven't done anything...from my couch.
I'm addicted to the creativity on Polyvore and have been creating sets.
It feeds my artsy right brain...
I'm addicted to the creativity on Polyvore and have been creating sets.
It feeds my artsy right brain...
Between the coughing fits, I finished my leaf shawl...
Yesterday I sewed...We had a nice dinner at home...I did some wardrobe planning with Suzan (Fabric Lady) on her blog...I'm taking my princess out to lunch today for her birthday...Tomorrow I'm headed to Stonemountain and Daughter Fabrics to have some serious wardrobe enhancements...
Basically, I'm climbing out.
Laurel. On the other side.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
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