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Working on a puzzle is a great way to practice patience. Take your time to study the details of the image and then categorize the pieces by their tonal values to get started. Getting familiarized with the image and pieces may reduce any pre-puzzling overwhelm. Haa, the last thing you need is stress for an exercise about practicing patience. Enjoy!
Photo by: Nathalia Segato @nathsegato
BOTANICAL GARDENS
Nature and all of its magical glory simply exists evolving, forming and flowing over time. People mimic and manipulate nature to control a specific environment. There is a balance between allowing nature do its thing and manicuring it to create visual art for human interaction.
Pagodas are commonly found in botanical gardens around the world. Chinese and Japanese padogas differ from those of Thailand, Laos Cambodia and Myanmar which reflect Dravidian architecture originating in south India. Vastu shastra, meaning “science of architecture," is the traditional system of architecture consisting of design, layout, space planning, ground preparation and spatial geometry. Pagodas traditionally have an odd number of floors with very few exceptions.
Enjoy these Pagodas from my past botanical garden visits.
Photo by: tina natalini
Designing anything takes patience, but how about 136 years until completion? Construction of Sagrada Família by architect, Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) began in March 1882 and is set to be completed by 2026. There are many more decorative works of art to be finished by 2030 or 2032. Despite many setbacks over the years prolonging the completion of Barcelona’s minor basilica, progress has slowly forged ahead.
Antoni Gaudí’s style is a collaboration of elements from various art periods including; Art Nouveau, Catalan Modernism, Spanish Late Gothic. This imaginative blending of styles of the ages has turned Gaudí’s name into a cliché to describe ornate or overly busy decor or patterns. “That’s so Gaudí,” is a phrase most people have heard many times, although mispronouncing his name.
Imagine creating a work of anything that would most likely not be completed until many years after you’re gone with generations of people continuing to bring your vision to life. Sagrada Família has been coming to life with advancing technologies as the decades pass. Donations are in the multi-millions to fund the progress of the remaining structures and decorative elements.
Seeing this indescribable work of architecture in person has left an indelible imprint on my little designer soul. I look forward to visiting again.
Learn more about Sagrada Famíia and Antoni Gaudí
Photo by Scott Webb @scottwebb
Plants are a perfect example of DESIGN & WELLNESS working together. They are both aesthetically beautiful and possess emotional and physical healing properties including purifying air.
This weekend, consider spending extra time nurturing any plants you may have or bring new plants into your life and home.
Aloe is an important plant to have around since it’s great for burns and cuts and can be added to blended drinks for gut and joint support. Most grocery stores sell starter herbs like basil, rosemary, mint and oregano that would be a great way to bring in fragrant and edible herbs home. If you want to start a plant from seeds, I suggest using the seeds from an organic fruit of your choosing. Eat the fruit, rinse the seeds and drop them into a small pot with food appropriate soil. I also add water at the roots in the pot saucer.
Many years ago, I started out with a cactus, then moved into succulents and herbs and now I have graduated to “Phil” my Philodendron, a ZZ plant which thrives when ignored and left in the dark and my first lemon tree from organic lemon seeds that will produce fruit in a few years. My newest additions are lemon verbena and chamomile.
If I could learn to keep plants and herbs alive, anyone can. Enjoy your healing and fragrant weekend filled with purified air!
Oh yeah, and it’s completely okay to talk to your plants and especially thank the herbs when you pluck from them. Haa
Photo by: Cristofer Jeschke @cristofer
“While procrastination is a habit most say they would like to avoid, good things can come from it. You shouldn’t feel down about the bouts of writers’ block and when you feel drained of creativity. It could be something as simple as seeing the words in a book or hearing something in a film. Perhaps it’s as complex as having an a-ha moment when you least expect it. It’ll come to you. I’d like to tell you more about it, but I think I’ll do that later…”
To see the funny antics and adventures of Matt, follow him on Instagram @mattschubertisdead. Fingers crossed he will share samples of a project he’s been crafting for quite some time.