Adventures in Chalking

Armed with big fat rainbow chalk, the Mad Chalker ties back her wild hair into a ponytail and checks that all the rest of her supplies are in order. Navy blue zip-up polar fleece. Check. In the right pocket, a plastic Ziploc baggie holding 5 or 6 pieces of chalk and a dusty post-it note with a few choice quotes. In the left pocket, carefully folded Kleenex to wipe off her chalky fingers — wiping her hands on her pants would be a dead giveaway to her identity. She laces her sneakers and then she's ready to go. It's 6:30 in the morning.

FrenchToastGirl's blog (www.frenchtoastgirl.com/weblog/blogger.shtml) was highlighted on Blogger.com this morning. I looked at her blog and found a long article on chalking in her local park. She goes out in the early morning and writes wonderful quotes on sidewalks. As I was reading her blog, I thought of the many ways we use our creativity to beautify our world.

I am a quilter, a card maker, and a gardener. I take fabric, pieces of paper and ribbons, and plants to make my world a little brighter. Right now I have a small tree and about 30 perennials waiting for me to come home to put them in the ground. I have already prepared the ground with 2 yards of compost that the city recycling delivered to my home. I now need to get two yards more for the backyard. I just love to sit in the summer heat and see flowers blooming.

I just started making cards through the influence of Bee Scrapin' in town. I have four cards ready for Mother's Day with speciality paper, ribbons, and flowers, for my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and two friends. Now just like the mad chalker, I need to find the perfect quote to put inside.

As we search for our way to be artistic or beautify this world. The Library has several books that might interest you.


"The artist's way : a spiritual path to higher creativity "

Julia Cameron.

Describes the author's comprehensive twelve-week program designed to lead people to discover their creativity and develop imagination by tapping into a higher power that connects creativity with the creative energies of the universe.


"The creative habit : learn it and use it for life"

Twyla Tharp with Mark Reiter.

Tharp's time-tested techniques will help everybody reach their greatest creative potential, in a clear, easy-to-follow program that lifts the veil off the creative process and opens the door to the artist in everyone.


"Seeking the silent stranger : drawing your way into the deeper self "

Lidia E. Everett.

Explore the realms of passion that lay just beneath the surface of your conscience through the use of easy drawing exercises.
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