I'M HAVING FUN

“The most potent muse of all is our own inner child.” – Stephen Nachmanovitch.

When Bear and Monkey were young, their chalkboard was the driveway, and they would spend ages drawing with chunky chalk. Often I would join them and we would write messages to each other that would stay there until the next rain washed away a rainbow stream. Like the scene in Mary Poppins when Bert’s drawings wash away…When I was a young girl, way back in the ’70s, I had a chalkboard on a fence in my backyard. I loved playing schools, although I do remember getting cranky when my ‘students’ – usually my sister and her friend – didn’t behave in my class.

It’s a public holiday in Perth and it’s a sizzler – not long ago it was 40C. Too hot right now to go anywhere and my Blue Eyes is not feeling so great, so we are at home in the air conditioning. A few hours ago I was feeling jumpy; I needed something to do. Often cooking or reading is what I turn to, but I had this sense that I needed to make something. And it couldn’t cost a lot of money. So I decided today was the day I would make a cafe-style chalkboard for my kitchen, big enough for that night’s ‘menu’, shopping needs, and a message of love.

When I get in these moods, I have a picture of exactly what I want in my head. I wanted my chalkboard to have a frame with a rustic edge; recycled fence posts would have been ideal. I ended up finding a mirror with a beach-worn frame; the mirror is now in the process of being blackened.

Of course, once I started, I decided to make more. Two long frames that were in the car ready for the op shop were retrieved; one will be a ‘graffiti-message’ board for Miss Attitude to hang in her room. Two other frames, buried in a cupboard, are being converted into smaller message boards. Guess what my creative gift idea is this year!

So, in between writing this blog and having a coffee with Blue Eyes, I have been coating the boards black – I can’t wait to see the finished product (pictures will be posted). But, here’s the frustrating thing: I can’t write on the boards for three days! That will be hard work.. I want to start drawing!

Poor Blue Eyes; I really don’t know how he puts up with me and my sudden bursts of creativity.