Unwrapping The Mind

If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, welcome and thanks for coming. You should begin by reading this to learn what it's all about.

~You'll find the winner of last week's gift and my thank you to participants posted here.~

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Do you view objects from the same vantage point day after day? Do you approach your life from the same vantage point day after day? I want you to open your mind to how you see things.

This week you are working with a metaphoric wrapper...the emotion or emotions that wrap your mind. Fear, apprehension, cautiousness...whatever keeps you from viewing objects and your life from a different vantage point. You know I'm going to ask you to do something that might be a little uncomfortable, don't you? *she smiles slyly* It is nothing drastic, nothing illegal, and you are allowed to remain fully clothed.

With your digital camera in hand...and I know you have one because I see the photos you post on your blog...step forth into the world. A public place, not your living room or Aunt Bessie's kitchen. Think of places you frequent...a park, a museum (where cameras are allowed), a store, a playground, but do not be limited by my suggestions. Find an object or objects that you have seen before...by objects I mean anything from buildings to poles to poodles to garbage trucks, anything. Lie on your back on the ground or floor and snap at least one photo from that vantage point. Relax. Unless you choose to lie on the floor of a public restroom, you will not die from an onslaught of bacteria...remember we are unwrapping the mind of such binding thoughts. Hold on to the emotions running rampant through your body as you do this and use them in finalizing your creation.

Now go home, download the photo and edit it as you like. Post the photo on your blog along with your thoughts...remember the emotions you felt as you snapped the photo...and anything that happened while getting your shot. Talk about the experience. Set the scene. These are just prompts to, hopefully, help you think. You are not bound by any of them. Write a post that let's you relive your emotions and insight from the new vantage point. Have you taken anything away from the experience that might help you approach your life from a new vantage point? What do you have to say?

Take a deep breath, letting the oxygen fuel your creative, daring spirit and go snap that photo.

Have fun!
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Here's the how-to of weekly participation:

• Leisurely, happily create your project for the week.
• Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Monday through Saturday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
  
• If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
  
• Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
  
• After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post at WE. I will be drawing for the weekly gift from comments.
  
• Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight and when called for, words of support, encouragement or comfort.
  
• Check back each Monday for the new WE prompt and to see if you won the previous week's gift, which will be chosen by random.org from the comments. (Do you have an online store? Would you like to feature it at WE?)

Questions or comments about this week's prompt (or if I have confused you), please let me hear from you on this post. I love it when you talk to me.

*If you have completed your Unwrapping The Mind project, sign Mr. Linky here.

Unwrapping The Mind ~ Mr. Linky

Those participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt Unwrapping The Mind, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your project post. Remember to also leave a comment on this post so that you will be entered for the weekly giveaway. Thanks for playing.

Ending the First Week at Wrapped Emotions

My great big ole THANK YOU to Wrapped Emotions' first week participants.

It was encouraging for me to read this was a fun project for each of you and that the memories of childhood were lovingly relived. As suspected, we each commented fondly on the people and events which surrounded the enjoyment of our favorite childhood candies. We realized it was the people and happenings of our childhoods which were the source of our emotions, not simply the eating of the candy. As adults some of you were actually quite disgusted at the taste of what you remember as your childhood delight, but still the childhood emotions were summoned. Others overcame a childhood fear of participating in art class. Thank you for playing this week with an open spirit of fun and discovery.

Another big THANKS to those who commented or emailed that this week slipped by you, and you plan to participate in future prompts. I look forward to seeing you here.

As promised I have a small gift and have randomly drawn a winner from participants. There were seven participants, not counting myself, and random.org chose number 1 as the winner. Congratulations Lynnae of From Under The Clutter , who happens to be the first person ever to post a project contribution to Wrapped Emotions. Quite fitting that she should be chosen as the first gift recipient.

Lynnae will receive a package of card making supplies to jump start a future creative endeavor. Your gift contains a package of ten 5x7 pink flat cards and envelopes, ten oval 4-1/2x6-1/4 white flat cards and one package of dimensional embellishments. Lynnae, contact me by email to arrange shipping. Next week another gift...and if you win once...you still have the opportunity to win again...luck of the draw.


Additionally, I am very excited to share that crafters, shop owners and businesses are beginning to contact we regarding my desire to have a weekly feature of an online shop or business who has generously donated a gift for the weekly drawing.

See you here tomorrow for the next Wrapped Emotions prompt. This week will be calorie free, but a lot of fun.

Let Them Eat Candy

If this is your first visit to Wrapped Emotions, welcome and thanks for coming. You should begin by reading this to learn what it's all about.

Edited: I had a coherent thought...yes, it does happen. In order that comments may be left on the prompt post each week (with questions, thoughts) I will put up a second post each week with the title "insert prompt post title ~ Mr. Linky" and a link to it within the original prompt post). We will sign Mr. Linky and leave comments to be entered for the drawing in that Mr. Linky post. Clear as mud? Questions? Just ask in the comments of this post, and I'll respond in the comments so that everyone benefits from the question and answer.

Ready to play? Me, too. So here we go...

We are going back to our childhood years. For the sake of those of you (and me) who are trying to relocate our creative spirit, our first project is a very simple one. Think kindergarten art. Think like a kid. Think messy. Don't worry about the finished product. Play and have fun.

As a young child what was your favorite-absolutely-loved-to-get candy treat? Now go buy it and eat candy. Save the wrapper or box. Sit back, savor your treat, close your eyes and remember enjoying the candy as a child. What were you doing? Who was there with you? How did you feel?

Now create a collage expressing that childhood emotion. Include the candy wrapper in your collage. You may use the following (kindergarten) materials:

• construction paper (If you already have another type of solid color craft paper, not actual construction paper, you may use it. But no fancy shmancy printed or textured papers.)
  
• scissors
• crayons
• markers
• stickers
  
• glue
• glitter
• one three-dimensional object

You do not have to include all of the above materials, but you may not add to the materials list. There is no predetermined manner in which you must use the materials. You may create your collage on an art journal page if you choose.

What did you discover? Was it the thought or act of eating the candy as a child which invoked your emotion? Or was it the people or event? Or was it aspects of both?

Happy creating!

Here's the how-to of weekly participation:

• Leisurely, happily create your project for the week...duh
• Post a photo or scan of it on your blog any time, any day Monday through Saturday with as many or as few words as you choose to accompany it...no words?...no problem...unless the week's prompt calls for words.
  
• If you so choose, and I love it when you choose, include the WE button in your post. If you choose not to post the button (and I will still love you), please link back to the current week's post at WE within the text of your post. Thank you. Grab the button code.
  
• Come to Wrapped Emotions and sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your WE post for the week. Please don't make visitors scroll and search for your week's contribution by merely linking to your homepage.
  
• After signing Mr. Linky, please also leave a comment at WE. I will be drawing for the weekly gift from comments.
  
• Use Mr. Linky to visit the blogs of fellow participants. You have all week to pop in and out to visit. Offer words of observation, sheer delight and when called for, words of support, encouragement or comfort.
  
• Check back each Monday for the new WE prompt and to see if you won the previous week's gift, which will be chosen by random.org from the comments. (Do you have an online store? Would you like to feature it at WE?)

Sounds like a lot to do, but it's just a bunch of words...I had to lay it all out.

Have fun. Express yourself! Once your post is up remember to sign Mr. Linky here and leave a comment.

Wrapped Emotions Blogroll and Guest Bloggers

After Wrapped Emotions has been up and running for a few weeks, I will create a WE blogroll to include regular participants. If you miss a few times of participation along the way, you will not be booted off. Contrary to what my sons might lead you to believe, I am not that mean. Also, if you are a regular participant, I will favorite your blog at Technorati. It's not required, but it would be real sweet if you reciprocated.

Additionally, once a month Wrapped Emotions will feature a guest blogger. I thought we would play a few weeks before delving into that portion of the fun. But do stay tuned for your chance as guest blogger.

Do you have an online shop? Would you like to feature it at Wrapped Emotions?

Let Them Eat Candy ~ Mr. Linky

Pixie Stix Or Fairy Dust? Above is my completed collage. I've signed Mr. Linky with a link to the post on my other blog which tells the story.

Those participating in Wrapped Emotions' weekly prompt Let Them Eat Candy, please sign Mr. Linky below with the direct link to your project post. Remember to leave a comment so that you will be entered in the weekly giveaway drawing.

Feature Your Online Shop At Wrapped Emotions

I would love to feature your shop here at Wrapped Emotions. Here's the catch...come on, you knew there was one.

Donate a small gift from your shop as the gift of the week for Wrapped Emotions' random drawing. Ok, you twisted my arm...it can be a BIG gift if you choose. Your shop will be featured for the week, Monday through Saturday, with links and a photo sampling of your products. Just email me at melodyspins[at]gmail[dot]com for more information or to scream "yes! give away my stuff!"

Participants, do not fear, if there are no takers on this offer...I've got you covered with weekly gifts.*

*Disclaimer: Diamond jewelry nor designer handbags will be involved.

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?