Angi-dori

What's the point of a bandwagon if you can't jump on one at least once in your life. Or twice, because let's be real; of course I wear yoga pants when I'm not actually doing yoga. But what I'm really talking about are the Midori travelling journals. Ever since the moment I first saw my friend's new Midori, I was obsessed. And broke. There was no way I could afford the hefty price tag of an authentic Midori. So I made my own; I call it the Angi-dori. And I can show you how. But first, I'll geek out and show you how I am using mine.

 

I love this Raven pendant! Initially when I made this book it had a thinner band holding it together, but I have since upgraded to this thicker elastic band.

 

Look at all the geeky stuff in here!

 

 

 

Pockets, pockets and more pockets! I have stashed business cards, business post cards, stickers, and scratch pads and so much more. A bull clip makes a clever pen clip.

 

 

 

A photo album for my favorite photos of my boys.

 

 

I can't tell you how many times I've stood in the paint aisles at my local art supply store looking for a substitute paint because my favorite brand is out of stock, only to get home and the color is all wrong. I created this book from acrylic paper to hold all my paint samples from various manufacturers.

 

 

 

 

I couldn't function without a book of lists. I pretty much have a list for everything in here, from art show deadlines, paintings to do, things to print, to canvases and cradles in stock in my studio. Lists are my secret weapon to staying organized and keeping my time managed.

 

 

 

And finally, some stress release. Some people meditate when they are stressed out. I color super heroes. True story! I made this little notebook so I could sketch out and color pin up girls and super heroes.

 

 

Want to make your own?

 

 

Start with a nice piece of leather that is a good 2-3mm thick.

 

 

 Cut it to the size you want (I chose 8" x 12") and mark for holes: two in the top and two in the bottom. I kept my holes about 1/4" in from the edge and apart from each other. You can also punch a hole in the center of the back for your band. I used a leather punch for this but you could just as easily use a hammer and small nail.

 

 

 

Thread your elastic cord through the holes and secure with a knot. It should look something like this when you are done.

 

 

Now it's time for the fun part. Making your inserts. I chose to make a photo album, 2 six- pocket folders, and 3 notebooks.

 

Each 6 pocket folder is created from one file folder. It's all in how you fold it and tape it.

 

 

 

Four pockets on the outside...

 

 

and two pockets on the inside. You can even add small envelopes for increased storage. I made two of these folders for a total of 12 pockets and three storage envelopes for my book. Labels keep the pockets organized.

 

To make my photo album, I simply folded a plastic page protector in half, trimmed off the excess and taped the open end closed.

 

 

Lastly, it's time for some simple bookbinding.  I made three.

 

 

I chose a selection of wax batik papers because of how durable they are (and also I've been hoarding them).

 

 

Next, choose your book papers. I made booklets from graph paper, sketch pad papers, and acrylic paper. Fold a sheaf of paper in half and cut down to the size you want. My finished booklets were 5.5"  x 7.5" so I simply folded standard 8.5" x 11" sized paper in half and trimmed the height down to 7.5". Do the same for the booklet covers. Lay the signature of paper flat and mark three holes down the center spine. Punch holes using an awl or hammer and nail. Tip: use bull clips to hold your book signatures together while you are working with them.

 

 

Using a needle and waxed thread (or wax your own), sew the signature and cover together, Tie a knot on the inside.

 

 

Slide your folders and booklets into the elastic bands in your leather notebook cover. I've kept my instructions to the bare minimum because there are dozens of terrific tutorials on you-tube and pinterest that show you how to make midori style covers, folded inserts as well as how to load up to 6 books in to your notebook.

 

 

 

 

 

If you are wanting to make your own, here is a list of supplies I used to create mine:

 

leather (3mm thick) 8" x 12"

black elastic cord

leather punch (or hammer and small nail)

2 file folders

various envelopes and stickers

invisible tape

clear plastic page protector

decorative papers

acrylic or watercolor paper

lined or grid paper

sketch pad paper

waxed thread

paper awl (or hammer and small nail)

sewing needle

 

Don't forget your studio muse!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bringing Home Frankie

"I can scarcely wait til tomorrow

when a new life begins for me,

as it does each day,

as it does each day.

Stanley Kunitz

 

 

When I read this poem I am always reminded of the day I brought Frankie home. Nine years ago I came face to face with an ex-puppy mill mutt on death row. Status: unadoptable.  She was shaking with fear, barking hysterically, and aggressive with other dogs. I took her home anyways. Partly because she was cute and mostly because she sat on my feet and convinced me she was my soul mate.

 

 

Every day I massaged her tense body and told her that I would be good to her and she would be good to me. Nine years later I wouldn't dream of going to my studio without her. She has kept me company all these years and worked tirelessly as my muse and model for dozens of paintings.

 

 

"Party Girl"

9" x 9"

mixed media on wood

$85

 



 



An Introverted Garden: Spring

I spent a lovely morning having coffee with my mom and a mutual friend of ours when the conversation turned toward health: physical, mental, and spiritual. We all agreed that we spend too much time on information overload. We write blogs, we read blogs, we research everything we need to know, and a lot of stuff we don't, on the Internet and pin thousands of images we just can't stand to lose track of. I was exhausted just talking about it.

When I got home I headed straight out to my garden for the day. I was all alone except for my Frankie Dog, and I usually let her do all the talking. She doesn't say much except the odd, "Rub my belly, would ya?" What I love about my garden is how well it suits my personality. Just as the Japanese Maples are making tentative unfurlings of their leaves, hoping winter is over, I too am tentatively putting down my knitting needles and checking the temperature outside. Don't rush me, I always think. I'm not ready yet.

 

And then by mid April, something wonderful happens. My equally shy Japanese Anenome Nemerosa decide to show up. Like me, they don't stay for long. Just when the party is getting started, they will recede for the year, leaving behind the raucous laughter of the livelier party goers; the bold hot pink peonies, the cobalt blue hydrangeas and the drunken table top dancing dahlias. I will forgive my Anemone Nemerosa for leaving early, the same way my friends forgive me. We are introverts. And when I see them again next spring I'll tell them they were worth the wait.

 

 

 Mounds of my beloved Japanese Anenome Nemerosa

spread beneath several varieties of Japanese Maples throughout my garden.

 

 

 

I'm always looking for a quiet place to sit,

 

 

 

and my favorite garden helpers are usually taking a break in the shade.

 

 

 

A Feast for Crow

If the moon smiled,

She would resemble you.

You leave the same impression

of something beautiful but annihilating.

 

Sylvia Plath

 

 

"A Feast for Crow"

16" x 16" framed

acrylic on canvas

 

$310

 

 



The Trigonometry Lesson

I never quite know what to say when people ask me where I get all my ideas from. I mean, where do you get yours from? But this week the answer really hit me. I totally rely on a combination of my imagination, a reference photo of a model and something I really need to say. This past week I've had a concussion and there were only headaches; no inspirational messages or bursting imagination. And I still needed to do the work! All I could do was paint from a reference photo. I snapped a fun photo of my son's cat Tuxedo, sitting on Matty's trigonometry homework and distracting him from the drudgery ahead.

 

"The Trigonometry Lesson"

18" x 24"

acrylic on board

 

$450

 

The original photo.

 

 

 

 

Tuxedo has an insane amount of super long white whiskers.

Runner

 

"Runner with His New Crown"

12" x 36"

acrylic and paper on canvas

 

$435

Ten years ago I was driving home from a friend's house in Otter Point when I happened across a field of Indian Runner Ducks. I fell in love so hard; often driving by and sitting outside the field watching them for hours. I forced my husband to accompany me once and he barely humored me as he sat there, unmoved, muttering something about not getting any freaking ducks. Years passed and prized Japanese Maples took over my yard as I eventually stopped thinking about owning Indian Runner Ducks.

Then, a couple of summers ago I was taking my young friend Julia to the beach with my kids. She hopped in my car, opened her back pack and out popped "Cricket". I spent that summer duck sitting at the beach. Cricket made a lot of friends and became a minor local celebrity. I still don't own an Indian Runner Duck, but I can dream can't I?

 

Matty and Cricket

 

 

The vagina Warrior

 

 

"The Vagina Warrior"

18" x 24"

$450

 

She let go.

She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of the fear.

She let go of the judgments.

She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.

She let go of the committee of indecision within her.

She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.

Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice.

She didn’t read a book on how to let go.

She didn’t search the scriptures.

She just let go.

She let go of all of the memories that held her back.

She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.

She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.

She didn’t promise to let go.

She didn’t journal about it.

She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.

She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.

She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.

She just let go.

She didn’t analyze whether she should let go.

She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.

She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment.

She didn’t call the prayer line.

She didn’t utter one word.

She just let go.

No one was around when it happened.

There was no applause or congratulations.

No one thanked her or praised her.

No one noticed a thing.

Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.

There was no effort.

There was no struggle.

It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad.

It was what it was, and it is just that.

In the space of letting go, she let it all be.

A small smile came over her face.

A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore…

~ Rev. Safire Rose