The daily card, week 43

Eek... I had better keep up with posting these or I will still be sharing this year's cards well into next year. In some ways, this project has faded into the background. I don't really think much about it (until it's time to post here, of course). It's just a part of my routine. So it's going to be weird that in less than eight weeks I won't be doing it anymore.

There are some things that aren't so much a part of my public identity, in the way that gardening is, but more something that makes me feel like myself. The daily cards do that for me. Bar Method does that for me. On a good day, running does that for me. Walking around my neighborhood and listening to podcasts, reading before bed, do that for me for sure. It is like an internal touchstone. It is a reset position. It's not something I talk about much. Despite the fact that I'm sharing here, this project is really just for me.

When life gets busy, as it is at the moment, it's tempting to want to jettison this project to have more time for Things That Need to Get Done. But I've found that when life gets busy is when I most need this, to keep me in touch with who I am and to help me find the calm center underneath it all. In times like this, I am so glad that I made this commitment to myself.

As a creative challenge, I am decorating a playing card every day in 2015. More context on this project is here and you can see all past card posts here.

The daily card, week 42

Hi there! I am falling off the regular blogging wagon until the end of the year as I work on some other projects - but I will still plan to share the remaining weeks of the daily card project.

My favorite by far is October 24, which is a washi-tape recreation of the Anthropologie dress that I wore to a friend's engagement party. My least favorite - like, possibly of the entire year - is October 21. I like the concept but the execution did not work and it looks like a Claire's catalogue threw up on a graffiti wall. But the quote is from Elizabeth Gilbert's fantastic podcast and her advice to stay present and find inspiration in what's around you, however mundane. On a similar note, October 19 is inspired by the alt-text of this comic, which I think of when I get bogged down in stuff at work that probably doesn't matter too much in the scheme of things.

And for another creative playing card project, I recommend Austin Kleon's steal strategies.

As a creative challenge, I am decorating a playing card every day in 2015. More context on this project is here and you can see all past card posts here.

The daily card, week 41

This is one of my favorite weeks in a while. Inspired by: the pattern on my favorite plaid shirt and rummaging through my childhood bookcase; the first Democratic debate (it's Hillary's logo on a photo of Vermont); the deliciousness of runny eggs, especially on bibimbap; collage inspired by a Katie Licht zine; rainbow stamping; a favorite line from True Detective (so good); and a moment of existential doubt (don't worry, Mom, I'm okay). The latter is done in the style of one of my favorite pieces of modern art, by Steve Lambert via Wendy at First Person Singular a few years ago. Lots of orange this week - it's feeling like fall for sure.

As a creative challenge, I am decorating a playing card every day in 2015. More context on this project is here and you can see all past card posts here.