being in a house with all males for years (Mr Magpie and three sons) I have had to learn how to get them talking… not sure if this is a female or male thing exactly…
all I know is when the boys would come home from school if I asked them “how was your day?” I would most likely get a one word answer… so I came up with questions like “what was the funniest thing that happened today?” and it was amazing sometimes what all was revealed…
the found poetry on my gesso journal page along with one of my moo cards brought that all to mind…
two more pages for AJJ’s “Masculine/Feminine” and Mix-it-Monthly’s “The Facial Profile”
and I am joining in with Moo Mania and More for their “Numbers” challenge...
Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz 
Patty, how I love your pages! I simply adore how you integrate natural materials and images and create something akin to a beautiful needlework sampler. There is such a serenity and tranquil beauty in this spread. I love the quote too. I know just what you mean about finding ways to encourage the males in your family to talk about their day. However, I have a son and a daughter and I also found my daughter just as reluctant to talk about what she did both at pre-school and school. She was very imaginative and loved cats. Once when I asked her ‘What story did you hear at pre-school today?’ she told me that they had been read to from a book about ‘a mummy cat’. She ‘re-told’ the story so beautifully and even gave the ‘mummy cat’ a name – Bruiser!!! This seemed a little odd as a name for mummy cat to me, so I asked the pre-school teacher about the book. My daughter had made it all up. I think it was what she would like to have heard that day and what she would like to have found in the pages of a book! xxx
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Your pages are wonderful, great details. When I was teaching I was always happy when classes or groups had more boys than girls, as it was so much quieter! The girls always chattered like a flock of geese! I mean, you never hear about women being strong, silent types, do you! We use our words! Thanks for joining us at Art Journal Journey, hugs, Valerie
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Yeah, and thanks for joining us at Moo mania and more, too!
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Beautiful pages with lots of detail to look at and I like the words. I also love the photograph of the long shadows which I assume you’ve enhanced digitally, gorgeous. Yes there is a difference between male & female in many ways and living with four of them would be an education. Happy Sunday, Shirleyxx
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i ADORE this spread and all the Details. oh, and having two sons i can so much relate to your experiences!
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Fantastic detailed pages, love the silhouette piece, liked the question you gave your boys, mine was an all male house as well and getting answers was best when we were all sat eating.
Yvonne
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A wonderful spread Patty! So glad you combined AJJ and MM&M this time!♥♥♥
Oh I believe that sons are more quiet…
My girl’s mouth is open the whole time(since 14,5 years).. that’s sometimes a bit exhausting…lol. But I am happy that she shares all her secrets with me…
so I never stop her daily reports!
oxo
Susi
Happy new week for you liebe Patty!
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Well I only have the one boy, but I can relate. We used to talk in the car going to and from wherever. Always our best talks about big life and we always had dinner together all of us every night, that was key. LOVE your pages, always so soft and yielding, yielding to what works, that’s what you did! xox
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I know that feeling with the one word answer… my youngest is the KING of ONE WORD RESPONSES! His current girlfriend has gotten him to be a bit more talkative but some days you have to pry an answer out of him. Love the art today!!
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Clever you. My husband came home from work each day, and went through the mail (thoroughly) before he even said hello. I learned to keep the letters aside until we’d at least had a chat. Definitely a bloke thing!
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Always a good thing to ask questions to which they cannot simply answer yes or no.
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gorgeous dear Patty! I love how very meaningful every one of your pages are and how perfectly things come together with lots of sweet details. Guess my son was not typical. To this day we still call him “yacky the duck” !
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these pages are beautiful…. I especially like the silhouette piece. Yes, I know what you mean about boys not being very talkative…. Have the same thing happening over here…..
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Love that idea to get less talkative individuals to open up! Your pages are wonderfully creative and so much fun to explore.
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I’ve lived in a house of all males too – gives you a whole new perspective on life doesn’t it?
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You do wonderful work!
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beautiful pages, Patty.
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Not only do you make outstanding mixed media art, you also know how to get boys to answer you with more than a single word. A great story to go with your wonderful spread.
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Always love seeing the detail you put into your pages and how they reflect your life. My boys were pretty good about talking to me since I always worked at the schools they attended so took them back and forth every single day. But when their father would ask, he would likely get a .caveboy response. 🙂 Have a great day. Tammy
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Love this page – I ‘ve been seeing the others but so on the run sorry I haven’t commented . . . your work always makes me pause…so sweet and filled with love! The found poetry is amazing xoxox
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Such a lovely post, great pieces! That was a great idea to turn your questions around to get more chat out of them, I know what you mean about boys and their stories! I’ll sometimes get a crunchy story a year after it happened…
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Lovely pages again with much nice details. I like also your combination of colors and textures. Men and boys are not ever really talkative,especially with women, isn’t it?
Dearest Greetings
Sabine xox
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This spread really speaks to me. The pages work so smoothly together — there’s a lot going on, to be sure, yet there is a focus and an energy that brings it together so nicely. I remember doing that question thing myself. Sometimes I still do!
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aah, I am spending time with a friend & her three & a half year old grandson. I try to word questions so he can not answer a yes or no… he is very articulate so I am having fun x Beautiful pages x
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The visage has a sense of serenity to her but it doesn’t stop there as the pages as a whole have a gentleness and serenity to them. It is as though I was sitting with someone having a quiet and gentle conversation, not someone firing probing questions but someone taking the time to absorb responses to their gentle enquiry.
I adore that this brought memories back to you. So funny that by altering the perspective of the questioning, you discovered that they would actual reveal nuggets of their day.
Wishes
Lynne
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I love this journal page. Its rather girlie, but I like that about it. I think it might be your outlet for all the testosterone in your house. Glad you got the boys to say more than 1 word. Great question.
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Beautiful pages Patty!! You have me laughing with boys and talking. It is so true. I have the same experiences. It was always funny when you switch things up a bit and the results you would get. Lol…. 🙂 ~Sophia
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What a great way to bring out the conversations!! I love it! Love that first photo- Did you transfer that onto material? Such a cool background Miss Patty!!but then, you are the cleverest girl I know! “)
Your pages are just delightful- always you create such lovely artwork-love the wording with this! xoxo
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I think subconsciously we create art based on past experiences. Your spread and story made me smile. Having a daughter, I can tell you it was and is never quiet around here! I am also blessed with a DH who talks to me. Wouldn’t have it any other way!
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That’s an amazing spread, I love every detail.
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So fabulous the story and the spread! Yes its all about the right answers, haha! Love the idea of finding words in a big text and bring them out to tell a new story!! My eyes are so pleased with the red dots, the real plant and the crackle on the beautiful girls face! ♥ Conny Mix It Monthly
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