Welcome To Wrapped Emotions

Welcome to Wrapped Emotions, a place to create, connect and express yourself. I'm Melody.

First, at huge thank you to Rebecca of Just a little bit of something extra creations for my blog design. I love it!

Now, why I'm here...

Recently I read an artist's writings, my apologies for not recalling who, and one of her statements resonated with me. "We live in a world where people live without their hearts and don't even miss them."

That statement was powerful to me. She was speaking to the fact that the majority of us do not take time to connect with our emotions on any creative level. She was not talking about making things for others to have and cherish. She was referring to creations meant to connect ourselves to our own emotions. She meant creations that reveal a person to themselves. I don't want to live without my heart and not miss it. I want to be fully connected with my emotions and the creativity housed within me.

So I created this blog to hold myself accountable to spend more time expressing myself creatively...connecting with my heart...creating with emotion. I want to encourage you to do the same. There is no better way to do this than working with your hands, your mind...connecting them with your heart. This blog's purpose is to encourage you and me to do just that and share it with others.

Sitting at home in a not-particularly-good mood one night, I began to play with a paper wrapper. I carefully tore it open, smoothed it flat, grabbed a pencil and began to doodle on the clean white paper of the underside. As I doodled, my mood began to improve...the tension in my shoulders lessened. A smile curved my lips. Being completely focused on the task of doodling, I had released stressed, expressed my emotions and reconnected myself. I was creating mini works of art. It was play, being a kid all over again, and it felt really good. Any artist will tell you this is how they create...with emotion. But most of us would never dare refer to ourselves as artists, and so we deprive ourselves of this gratifying channel of expression. We dare not allow ourselves to create works of art with the wild abandon of a child.

Then I began to think. Seems many of our emotions are linked to wrappers, packages, bindings...whether tangible or metaphoric. Think of the candy bars and bags of chips consumed during the depression of a broken relationship...the ice cream consumed on a day when the kids pushed every button...the three martini happy hour after the boss got in your face just one more time. Foods and drinks come with wrappers, in packages and containers (yes, that vodka comes in a container). Can you remember your emotions while in the throes of consumptions similar to those above? But not only food, any item we purchase or consume in some manner can call forth our emotions. Sometimes simply using an item causes an emotional reaction. Gifts wrapped in pretty paper invoke emotions when we see them and as we tear them open. Our emotions are enveloped by a myriad of wrappers...tangible and metaphoric. How many times have we hesitated to undertake a new venture because we were wrapped with fear? The connections and comparisons are endless.

This blog is my attempt to encourage each of you, including myself, to create...connect...express yourself. The creative ways to use wrappers, or the perception of emotional wrappers, to create and express ourselves through art is limitless. And all the better when we share our creations to encourage and inspire one another. Here is the premise...

Each week I will post a prompt. The prompt will be based on emotion(s) associated with a wrapper, real or perceived. I may post an emotion to pursue and/or instructions to use a specific art form. Some examples are paper, paint, clay, photography, and writing. Sometimes a type of wrapper may be the prompt with you expressing the emotions it brings forth, either presently or from memories. Other times the wrappers may be purely figurative, bindings we feel. The prompts and processes will be varied with the possibilities almost endless. Don't worry, you'll understand better as prompts are presented and as we play each week.

I am not talking expensive art supplies you need to go out and purchase, but rather things you will most likely find around your home or that can be purchased inexpensively. Many of you moms have simple art supplies around the house for the kids which will be great to use. If you are an artist, a crafter or if you scrapbook, you already have tons of fantastic supplies on hand. These creations are not to be high-dollar works of art, but imaginative endeavors to get those creative juices flowing, express and connect with our emotions, then share with others. An art journal is a suggested to house your completed WE projects.

Think of each project as your play time. You can spend as little or as much time as you choose working on each one. If some days you need to entertain the kids while you play, or just want to include them, give them some supplies and allow them to create along side you. But ultimately this is your time, your creation. There is no pressure...this is to be fun, relaxing. It's not as involved or complicated as it may sound. There are no right or wrong results.

Each week the prompts will be posted on Tuesday. You will have through Sunday of each week to participate. Please do not think of this as a chore, but as useful time spent recapturing a playful part of yourself...tapping into your creativity....connecting with your emotions. Everyone is creative...some of you just haven't realized it.

Oh, did I mention that you will have opportunities as guest blogger at Wrapped Emotions? Or that there will be links to your blog? I know we can inspire, encourage and support one another while having a lot of fun...laughing and maybe even crying along the way.

Until then, would you please take moment to leave your thoughts or questions in the comments?