FITZTOWN CHALLENGE BLOG - DISTRESS

FITZTOWN CHALLENGE 

Theme:  DISTRESS

Digi:  FAE 37

It's a powerful moment when you realize you have just completed the most favourite piece of work of your artiste life.  Well, this is it.

I asked myself why?  People always tell me not to do that - not to "analyze" everything - but I don't think I would have had much of a career in Psychiatry for 30 years if I didn't analyze everything "to death!!!!"

And you know what I came up with as an answer to my "why?"

I have absolutely no idea.  Hmmm.  That is NOT a Samara answer.  What is happening to me...am I moving on?  Am I really retired?  Have I begun to move into the stage where "what is - just is?"

Kinda Like:  Samara Navi Loves her Fitztown Creation

Oy Gavalt!!!

Fitztown.com has changed me forever

Having revealed my Epiphany (every Minister/Psychiatric Chaplain does these things) I want to move on to FITZTOWN CHALLENGE.  There is an amazing artiste for you to choose from at http://www.fitztown.com just as it says on their wonderful logo above.  So hop over and check out the images (especially the Cameo and Fae's - hee hee - personal favs.)

Then shuffle over to our CHALLENGE and find your own way to DISTRESS and enter our challenge.  We'd love to see your art, your entry.  I'd love to see whatcha got going in your art life! Also, don't forget to just go on over to the CHALLENGE to check out the Designer's work.  It is gorgeous, each taking a different road to the THEME:  DISTRESS.

And don't forget our FACEBOOK PAGE - CRAFTING WITH FITZTOWN.  We'd love to see you pop in while you are pm-ing or Newsfeeding or just browsing around!

Until then - I think I will just sit and admire my "I don't know why" fav. creation.

Big Hugginz Today!

Samara

READ ONLY IF YOU WANT TO READ SOMETHING PERSONAL TO ME

I distressed a wood frame with a mirror in the middle with my beloved Dad's DYNAMIC (the company) Metallic Leaf Finish Paint in Pale Gold 601 and Antique 606

These were antiquing paints my (Stockbroker) dad used on things like cement Venus or Napolean or Chariots of Fire or Busts of Historical Characters or wood or Architectural Items.

He was a Licensed Lifetime Prospector as well as a discoverer of Mineral Mines so drafting, drafting equipment, in the OLD way of drafting was part of his M.O. and along with that came boxes of drafting equipment, inks, rulers, paints, lettering, stencils, calligraphy pens and paper, canvases, rulers of every type and angle, knives, carving sets, etc. You know - the Noor inks that we now covet years later!

My mom gifted me with these a month ago.

Two years after his stroke that made him unable to recognize me

and two years after he entered the Nursing Home that cares for his confused, unable to speak, walk or do other daily activities, other than gobligook - but a loving, tender, soft, gentle person is he today, though he knows not who he is!

I feel like the luckiest girl alive to have my dad's beloved and cherished items from his life's passion - not being a Stockbroker, with his Company Office on the 18th Floor of The Royal York Hotel, ( p.s. my dad had Grade 8 ONLY and quite school to support his mom after he found his dad dead) but being one who trecked through the woods, with his team of jr. Prospectors behind him, living in tents, not bathing for days, eating the meanest of meals, with his own prepared Geological Maps that I'd find him creating at 4 in the morning at the kitchen table - for days on end - in search of Minerals that would lead to the Discovery of World  Producing Mineral Mines and a complete compilation of dozens of covetted Minerals that my mom has bestowed upon my 17 year old son Taylor (as a surprise when he gets back from Sweden) that are in a Curio Cabinet in his bedroom.  Taylor has had Papa's Pictures of all the Minerals (30 maybe) around his room on the walls for 5 years, after Papa gave them to him, because Papa and Taylor used to talk Minerals and Gems often because of Taylor's steep interest in what Papa did and the Minerals and Gems that Papa had in the Curio cabinet.  And Papa was able to tell Taylor the wildest of stories of how he came to retrieve each and every mineral and gem that sat on every shelf of that cabinet!!!

These were wonderful moments between a Grandfather and Grandchild - stories that will never die.

To me, though one of the meanest Dad's I could imagine, until his stroke, where he became his true self - a gentle, loving, wonderful, sweet, heartfelt, huggable man -

he was ALWAYS my HERO!
ALWAYS
And someone who deep down I loved to death!

So Thanks Dad.

I cherish everything of your work that Mom just gave to me and will use it at every chance I get in my own interpretation of passion - my art.

And thanks Mom
For knowing how much this would mean to me
When you had 2 other children and Grandchildren you could have bestowed this upon.

You gave us magic.

And gave us Dad back again!

Ah!  I just got the reason why THIS is my favourite art piece

Epiphany 

If you read this far, I truly thank you for sharing likely the most personal aspect of my lifestory.
But one I am intensely proud to share!
My hope is you can see why.


CHALLENGES ENTERED


Bunny Zoe's Crafts - M, 2nd Monday, 1E - (October) Animals
Craft-Dee BowZ - M, E3, project must have bow - (October) Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow 
Crafting from the Heart - W, E3 - Always Anything Goe
Imagination Crafts - M, 3E, 7C, SIR to win prize - (October) Always Anything Goes
My Craft Creations - 2W, Challenge links on top - (Week 1) Always Anything Goes
My Craft Spot - W, 1E, 5C - Blog Hop
Not Just Cards - 2W - (Week 1) Always Anything Goes
Path of Positivity - M, any positive/inspirational project or idea welcome - (deadline Nov 2)Courage
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge Blog - 2W, 3E - (Week 1) Anything goes + Option: Halloween
The Paper Girls - 1st & 3rd Mondays, layouts, cards - (Week 2) Anything Goes
The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - 2W, E2, SIO - (Week 1) Always Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant Monday Card Challenge - W, cards - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - W - #95 Anything Goes w/Bags, Tags, Boxes & More
Pile It On - W #43 Create a Scene
Crafting At the Weekend -M,  E3,  Anything Goes 
Gruffies & Guests -  M, SIR #8 Anything goes with the option of Halloween
Kit and Clowder- M (First Saturday of the month) Anything Goes
So Artful Challenge - M   leaves!
 A Creative Romance - 2W, 3E - (W1 of 2) - Pink
Alphabet Challenge - 2W, 1E, JFF - (W1 of 2) - S for Stitching
Daring Cardmakers - W, C5 – Sentimental
 Peachy Keen Stamps Let's Face it Fridays - W, SIO - Inspiration Image + Thankful Theme - see image below - challenge runs till Nov.1
Sister Act Card Challenge - W, Cards. - No. 80 - Anything Goes
Sweet Pea Stampers - 2W, SIO, E3 - (W1 of 2) - Think Pink - Breast Cancer Awareness
Tag You're It Challenge - 2W, C3 (Must include a tag and be CAS) - (W1 of 2) - Inspiration Tag - see below 
Turtle Soup Forum - D until 3rd Friday of the month - 1E per day -  Inspiration Image  - see below
Add a Little Dazzle - W, SIO - #48 Inspiration Photo /Anything Goes
Crafting with Dragonflies - 2W, 1E, F - #37 Pink cards for BCA (week 2)
Crafty Creations - 2W - #274 Thinking of you (week 2)
Creative Bug on the Loose - M, E3, freebie provided - Goose Bumps (ends Nov04)
Creative Moments - 2W, 3E - #54 Anything goes/ Halloween / Spellbound / Fairytale ( week 1)
Decorate to Celebrate - 2W, F, must be party decoration -  #86 Anything Goes 3-D (week 2)
Digistamps 4 Joy - 2W, SIO  - #102 Animals (week 2)
Inspiration Destination -W, F- #4 Anything goe
Midweek Magnolias - 2W, C5, SIR - #100 Special celebration (week 2)
Miriam's Crafting Blog Monthly Challenge - M, 1st Wed., E4 - Pink
Mod Squad Challenge - W, C5 - Create Your Favorite Kind Of Card
Stampin' Royalty - W, C3 - #251 Anything Goes
Take Heart Ideas -M, SIR, E3, C10 -  Anything goes
Whimsy Inspiration -M, 3E, SIO - #76 Anything Goes
Wonderful Wednesdays - W, SIO -  Always Anything Goes
WordArt Wednesdays - 5E , scriptural word art freebie offered each week - #155 -  Anything goes