Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Bonne Fête Michel!

Yesterday was Michel's birthday. (He's my boyfriend.) I have been so busy making cards for other people, packing for our move on June 1, and finishing up a course at the local women's center that I hadn't had a chance to make him a card or buy him a present. (I did order his favorite cheesecake as a birthday cake.) ;o)

So late Sunday night--or rather early Monday morning--I decided to make him a card (shown above) and send it by email. Because I was starting at the last possible minute, I chose a collage I had used for another card a couple of years ago. Next, I found a Rumi quote that seemed to fit with the collage, both in the meaning and how the words could be placed perfectly on the collage. Then, I decided to include a poem.

Writing the poem was an amazing experience. I have rarely had a poem flow out of me so easily. I was so tired and yet the words and rhymes marched through my mind and appeared on the page as I typed. I was so grateful to God!

Michel seemed very pleased with the card and the poem. He said something interesting, though. He mentioned that the card looked like a mini-Life Stamp. (A Life Stamp is something I created and designed to commemorate a special event in a person's life.)

So I decided to see if I could change the card into a Life Stamp. Again, the process flowed so effortlessly. Here's the result:


For me, this Life Stamp created itself. Said in another way: God/the Universe really wanted me to create this Life Stamp for Michel! And, I learned a few valuable lessons along the creative path:
  1. Simple collages (this one only has 3 elements--flowers, picture frame, eye) can still have profound meanings.
  2. Letting the words flow is more important than listening to my inner "word" critic.
  3. Sometimes (maybe all the time (?) and I have not been aware of the fact!) the art creates itself.

Happy Birthday, Michel!

--Vicky ;o)

Birthday card and Life Stamp
Copyright © 2009 Vicky Lynn Macchione