It has been quite some time since I've made a blog entry. I am sorry to those who have been reading my entries and have wondered what has been happening to me. The truth is, not much. January in Northern KY has been cold and miserable and I've rediscovered my love of cross stitching while sitting on my warm, comfy couch. I have been on a few very chilly walks, bundled up with scarves and gloves, but for the most part, I've spent my days indoors, dreaming of warmer times to come.
Here is a selfie at the Arboretum. I would not have survived these past four winters without my scarves. Two more weeks and I'll be heading south!!!
I want to give a big "Thank You" to Mike Parker and his team at Huff Realty. I honestly did not think my condo would sell, at least not at a price that allowed me to walk away debt free. They were also super friendly and made the process ridiculously easy. No worries what-so-ever. Now that the condo is sold, what next, you may wonder. I'll be starting a new blog to document my next adventure. As a matter of fact, my new blog will be named "My next adventure". You can find it by going to: karenupton.blogspot.com
I haven't posted anything yet and probably won't for a while. Spoiler alert... my next adventure is with the Peace Corps in Uganda!!! I don't leave until June so there may be a few entries leading up to the flight out, but I suspect not many.
I will be leaving the Midwest in a few weeks, staying with family in FL until my big departure for Africa. Therefore, I will be closing my Midwest Surroundings blog. Thanks to all those who visited, read my entries, and appeared in my photos. I have truly enjoyed my last four years in KY, but it's not time for me to settle down just yet. I must roll on.
I got the idea for the stars from my daughter (I acquire most of my craft ideas from her, thanks Jen!). She found the instructions on the website Homemade Gifts Made Easy. I tried making them a few weeks ago from construction paper but never did get them right. Then I discovered that calendar paper is perfect for origami. It is fairly thick so it holds it's shape and doesn't tear when you are forcing folds, but not too thick that you have a hard time making sharp creases. The pages are also glossy so the folds slide into each other with little effort and they create an interesting collage of colors on the finished product. So don't throw away your old calendars. Have fun with origami!
This is one of my favorite holiday songs, I found myself humming it as I was tidying up the decorations last night (not packing away yet, just tidying). I wish everyone the best for 2015 and certainly hope the words to this song resonate a sense of peace to all. It was composed in the late 60's/early 70's as a protest against the Vietnam War, but I think the message is still relevant today. John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"
So this is Xmas
And what have you done Another year over And a new one just begun And so this is Xmas I hope you have fun The near and the dear one The old and the young
A very Merry Xmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear
And so this is Xmas (war is over) For weak and for strong (if you want it) For rich and the poor ones (war is over) The world is so wrong (if you want it) And so happy Xmas (war is over) For black and for white (if you want it) For yellow and red ones (war is over) Let's stop all the fight (now)
A very Merry Xmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear
And so this is Xmas (war is over) And what have we done (if you want it) Another year over (war is over) A new one just begun (if you want it) And so happy Xmas (war is over) We hope you have fun (if you want it) The near and the dear one (war is over) The old and the young (now)
A very Merry Xmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear
All of my day-discs are flipped... Christmas is over.... Time to pack up the fun...
As you can see, I did adjust the patterns a little. I simply cut triangles out of shinny foil wrapping paper and pasted them on a few of the tips in order to break up the color pattern. No more accidental swastikas and I think it actually was an improvement in the overall design. Much more festive, you can't beat shinny! Of course, I'm sad now that I have to pack everything away. My stairway walls will look ever so blah and boring without the Christmas decorations. I must think of a crazy Spring craft to adorn the halls.
I feel as though the holidays have taken over my every thought and I am guilty of neglecting my blog. It has been quite chilly in Northern KY, not very conducive to snapping pretty pictures on weekend outings. I have been out and about, just not snapping pictures (that would entail taking off my gloves since I do not have those fancy gloves that allow you to operate a touch screen, and it's been way to chilly to take off gloves!). So, instead, I will share my holiday craft project.
This is my origami advent calendar wreath made with origami disks/coasters/stars (not sure what you would actually call them). It took a few tries to get the origami folding steps correct, but after a few were done successfully, the process seemed to fall into place. I had a ball folding the papers and assembling the wreath. A little tinsel and some fake flowers and voila! Origami advent calendar wreath! Each morning I get to flip a coaster to hide the day number and reveal the pretty star behind.
I hope no one thinks the pattern resembles a swastika!!!
I certainly did not mean for that to happen. Hallmark recently had to remove a wrapping paper design from the market for the same reason. I'm sure it was not intentional on their part either, it just happens when you are creating patterns. It didn't occur to me until looking at the star from a certain angle and then hearing the news article.
I just love that our city is getting so artsy! This past weekend I took a friend on an urban hike through downtown Cincinnati, focusing on the murals painted by Artworks, a local non-profit organization founded in 1996. Their mission statement is to empower and inspire the creative community to transform everyday environments through employment, apprenticeships, education, community
partnerships, and civic engagement. One of the ways they are accomplishing their mission is through what they call "public art"... building murals, free standing sculptures, unique bike racks, and they have even started turning the Metro bus shelters into artwork canvases.
The history of the mural program started in 2007 when former Mayor Mark Mallory visited Philadelphia and was introduced to their mural program, which in 30 years completed over 3,000 murals. He was so impressed that he challenged Artworks to create a mural in each of Cincinnati's 52 neighborhoods. The Artworks' website now boosts that 36 neighborhoods have at least one mural, some have many, and they are still working to get the remaining 16 their own masterpiece. To date, 90 murals have been completed. Here are my top six favorites from the downtown area (the write-ups are copied from the Artwork's website):
Number 6: Cincinnati's Table. Bit crazy, if you ask me. I love the snail along the bottom.
This mural boasts a surreal composition, made up of delicacies, food, and
fantastical imagery. Inspired by Dutch still life’s, the mural is full of
over-the-top detail and pays tribute to the culinary arts! Flying pigs complete
the scene, bringing Cincinnati’s Table to life. In partnership with Jean-Robert’s Table and Budig Realty, LLC
713 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Number 5: The Golden Muse. I thought this was beautifully done, very graceful.
This mural features a figurine from an 18th century mantle clock in the Taft
Museum of Art’s collection. Encompassing the entire wall, the figure becomes a
mythological music muse as the notes to Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the
Common Man (written for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and originally
performed at Music Hall in 1942) fly off the page and into the sky. This mural
was created as a part of the Taft’s 80th Anniversary Celebration,
“Art for All.”
Tim Parsley28 West 13th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202
Number 4: Homecoming (Bluebirds). I love all of Charley Harper's works! This picture looks crooked to me but the building actually sits on a hill so I was having a hard time lining this up... I think the birds are straight, bit of an optical illusion the way they split the picture to allow the center of the building to show through.
Charley Harper, one of Cincinnati’s most accomplished and celebrated artists,
studied and taught at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. It was there he met his
wife Edie and they continued to make Cincinnati their home, starting a family
and sharing an art studio. Charley’s favorite subject was the natural world and
he worked in a style he called ‘minimal realism’. This particular work is based
on Homecoming (Bluebirds), a painting done in his minimal,geometric style
and is symbolic, depicting two bluebirds – male and female – returning home. In partnership with Charley Harper Art Studios and Court St Executive
Suites.
Charley HarperJenny Ustick119 East Court Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Number 3: Ice Cream Daydream. That is my friend Chrisula in the picture, She said this one was a favorite for her too. Love the crazy colors.. mighty bright!!!
This fantastical mural brings youthful energy and vibrancy to the district of
Over-the-Rhine. A love for color and candy awaken the imagination where a
diamond sun rains strawberries on a dessert-filled garden. Thanks to Eden Floral Boutique.
Amanda Checco33 East 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Number 2: Energy and Grace. This mural just stood out from blocks away. It is huge and very, very blue. It just made me feel happy... like dancing and swirling :)
In Partnership with Art Academy of Cincinnati. Since moving
to Over-the-Rhine in 2005, the Art Academy of Cincinnati has been essential to
the neighborhood’s transformation. To celebrate the school’s commitment to
reviving this historic community, ArtWorks turned a painting by one of its
professors, native Cincinnatian and internationally acclaimed abstract artist
Kim Krause, into a mural. This is ArtWorks first abstract mural, and its vibrant
colors and whimsical movement capture the energy and momentum in
Over-the-Rhine.
Kim KrauseNathan Weikert16 E. 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Number 1: Martha, the Last Passenger Pigeon. This is my favorite of them all. The image invokes movement to me, and I love the artistic workmanship, very realistic. I believe they truly captured the beauty of these birds.
John A. RuthvenTim Parsley15 E. Eighth St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 To see a time lapse video of the making of this mural, click: Creation of the Martha mural
I want to give a big "Thank You" to Mike Parker and his team at Huff Realty. I honestly did not think my condo would sell, at least not at a price that allowed me to walk away debt free. They were also super friendly and made the process ridiculously easy. No worries what-so-ever. Now that the condo is sold, what next, you may wonder. I'll be starting a new blog to document my next adventure. As a matter of fact, my new blog will be named "My next adventure". You can find it by going to: karenupton.blogspot.com 
