mixed (up) media

I have never done anything "mixed media" before because, frankly, it boggles my mind. I so admire artists - including friends like Cristi - whom are so talented with mixed media! I love photography, I enjoy goofing around with paint, and I thrill over neat little items like letter tiles, and glass objects, and colorful paper, and beads, and fabric... you know - the unique things that are the creative heart of mixed media pieces! But though I love each element by itself I can't quite grasp how to put them together...

my pointed little head has had a rough time wrapping itself around that concept!

That's where my dear friend Lauren comes in :) Lauren and I celebrated our 50th birthdays last November.

We've known each other since we were 13, so I figured she'd still love me no matter what! She has meant so much to me over all these years, even though the majority of those years we've lived on opposite coasts. When she moved back to California after nearly 30 years, and we found ourselves turning 50, I decided to try and create a mixed media piece for her that incorporated a few of our special memories. I'm happy with how it turned out because it actually looks like I had envisioned it! And bless Lauren's heart, she really loved it :) I know it's really elementary but hey - at least I tried something new, right?!  

 Laur and I at 14, a nod to the Beach Boys, and a scanned and miniaturized copy of a letter I had written to her when we graduated from junior high and I knew I'd soon be moving away. She kept it all these years and sent me a copy several months ago :)

The ladybugs are because both Lauren and I ended up with red New Beetles, and the photo is us with dear friends (many of whom we're still in contact with... right, Liz & Renee?!) on our way to a 50's dance :)

The photo is a close up of one of the many pillows Lauren has made me - she's an expert seamstress and even made quilts for my babies :) The buttons signify her many sewing skills, and I added the HOPE bottle cap to represent that no matter what we've been through, we've always had hope in our lives. The hand-made clay "forever" tiles are of course part of my "forever friends" that runs across the bottom :)

Love you Laur - xoxo