Little Art Room in the Back

2009-12-11T14:04:00.000-08:00

It's a day for tea (Earl Gray), a good book (South of Broad), some laundry spinning around in the dryer (fresh jeans to put on warm after my shower)and kitties curled up snuggly in little kitty balls napping. Soup on the stove for dinner and that wonderful feeling after talking to my BFF that I do have the power to be the person I want to be. I don't know if she knows she has that influence on me or not, but she does. I have lots of tools for making positive moves in a good direction, but she infuses me with the belief that I can do it.
I am making this a homemade Christmas this year. I did that long ago, and times of more affluence moved me from that spot. This year I find myself thinking about what I want to make, and I feel so blessed to have creative options! The better part is, I have family and friends to make gifts for and the making of their presents causes me to think of them more. In this busy time of year, I hope you will find yourself taking time with a cup of tea to just sit back and think about why the people you love are important to your life.

The season of hope and peace . . .

2009-12-08T15:44:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas . . . The little tree has been decked out in all the handmade ornaments, the Nativity scene is placed on the hearth, the decorations are on the mantle and the stockings are hung by the chimney with care. It is feeling like Christmas. I am still working on my cards, so if you haven't received yours yet, know it is on it's way! There is a thought that has been very prominent for me lately, the idea of needing to let go. To let go of ideas that aren't working for me anymore, to let go of things/stuff that is not serving a purpose in my space anymore, to let go of habits/and notions that are keeping me stuck. I am not one to take change easily, but I am starting to see the glimmer behind letting go of something so something else can come into your life. As long as I hold on to the status quo, I will be safe, but stagnant. The end of this year has made me realize that somethings are going to have to be different (daily exercise, diet, using what I have instead of buying more, connecting more with those I love and not taking it for granted they will always be here, looking at the spiritual side of things, and not always what the physical eyes see). These are the ideas floating in my head as I thoroughly enjoy my little tree, with the years worth of memories decorating it and ponder on this, the season of hope and peace.

Home from the turkey feasting . . .

2009-11-30T16:14:00.000-08:00

It is feeling good to sit and chat for a minute as I sip my vanilla nut coffee, watching the setting sun blaze across the dining room wall, and looking forward to working on my Christmas cards tonight. I am a creative person, but I have never had the desire to make my own cards. However, I love to buy cards for other people. I especially like to sit and write notes in my Christmas cards. The start of the Christmas season started the day after Thanksgiving for me. Since my dad died 20 years ago, I lost my huge love of all things Christmas. My dad would not have wanted that for me, but I really miss his presence at the Christmas holiday time and have gone years without decorating the house or putting up the tree. This year I think I want to put up the tree. Merry Christmas, Dad.

A heart full of gratitude . . . .

2009-11-23T18:15:00.000-08:00

I am feeling very thankful today. My heart is happily anticipating spending time with my family, my health is dramatically improving and I am feeling a deep sense of peace and goodwill.
I had a burst of creative energy today. I took my 4 1/2 mile walk, washed the car, washed the windows at the back of the house (now letting in lots of light and sunshine!). This afternoon I brewed a cup of tea and savored Joyce Tenneson's Wise Women. What an excellent book. The photos are beautiful and it makes me proud to be an aging woman embracing this part of my journey. I even had time to play in the art room. I know, it's a pretty darn good life.
Wishing you and your family peace in your hearts and homes this Thanksgiving season.

What I like to do when I don't know what I want to do . . .

2009-11-16T18:08:00.000-08:00

Showing one of the little pieces I worked on in the art room today. I love to create tags when I don't know what else I want to work on. It gets me into my paints, rubber stamps and words. It helps me develop my skill of looking at something and deciding if it needs more, and if so, what or deciding it is finished. I don't know why I have such a fascination with these little pieces of paper, but I just love cool tags on boxes, presents, books, anything that a tag can be attached to. It felt good to sit in the room with the sun streaming in the window, music playing in the background and losing myself in realm of potential for awhile. Doing what I love today.

Peace in my soul today . . .

2009-11-12T06:17:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week I had an opportunity to let the 9 year old in me come out and play with another 9 year old. Not being a mother/grandmother, and not having access to being around children very much in my more adult life, I wasn't quite sure how this get together was going to go, but let me tell you, I had a blast! One of the things we did was to create little books to paint in and here is one of the pages from my book. The quote is from one of my favorite books, Life 101 by Peter McWilliams. I hope I can remember this more often. Wishing you peace in your day.

Choices about the journey . . .

2009-11-06T17:13:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here with my cup of green tea, my pumpkin spice candle glowing, and some random thoughts wafting around in my head. I am being mindful that we are on a journey here. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end. We have choices to make along the way that will determine how that journey is going to unfold. Some things will be beyond our power, like the choices others make that impact us or the random acts of life that we need to participate in. I want to be more mindful about the decisions I make from here on out. It's not that I have been a bad person, or a mean person, or a rude person (well, maybe once or twice!), but I guess I am feeling the need to live my life more on purpose. I don't mean more structure and less spontaneity. I don't mean every minute planned, all the days of my calendar filled in with more tasks to be performed. I mean, when given the opportunity of looking at a full day in front of me when I wake up in the morning, I want to see the beauty in my morning routine, noticing the sun shining in the window, the cats purring their good morning, the smell of the coffee brewing, the peace that comes from reading my morning devotional. Acknowledging the gift of time I have been blessed with to create with that room full of art supplies, the baskets of yarn I get to knit and the journals that lay open waiting for more words to be spilled across them. Being present to the people who love me and let me know that I am loved, and actively returning love to them. These are the conscious choices I want to honor within the rest of my journey. These are the things I don't want to be unconscious of as I move through my days.

Today, life is good . . .

2009-11-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

Today, life is good. Despite the fact that I only had about 10 trick or treaters last night (down from 100's we've had in the past). Despite the fact that my latest art project practically crumbled apart in my hands. Despite the fact that several of my friends are going through very trying times right now. So lots of Halloween candy for the hubby to finish off. I saved the art project and it will probably look cooler than it would have originally (it will definitely be stronger!) I am happy to say I am feeling strong, resilient and able to be there for my friends that need the support right now. They have stood beside me during my last few trying months and I am happy to able to be present for them. I am feeling more present in my own life right now, focused and more purposeful. I love the strength that can come out of adversity! The picture posted is one I did after my most recent hiatus from creating. I had the faces penciled in, but nothing done with them. Then one day not too long ago, I found the urge to add the color to the page and finish it. I realized my art muses had been waiting for me all along, and they are very patient ladies indeeed.

My molecules are buzzing . . .

2009-10-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Today is a very clear and windy day and I love the gusty, blustery wind! It makes me feel like all the cobwebs are getting swept out of my spirit, fresh air is blowing in, and if I listen well, I will hear something important being whispered to me on the wind. I love windy days, they make me feel very alive and energized! I respond to it like some people do to a full moon, I can't resist the pull to the energy swirling all around!

I am posting a picture today from my sketchbook that I made last night. I love using Pentel Energel 0.5mm pens in black to draw with. What I have discovered since taking Suzi Blu's on line class, is that I also love using my Prismacolor colored pencils with my drawings. My sketchbooks in the past have all been done in black and white, but I have come to love that splash of color in there now. I know it is autumn, and I love the fall, but somewhere in me these little spring flowers just wanted to bloom. Listen consciously today and see what is being whispered to you.

Loving the pumpkins of autumn . . .

2009-10-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year, autumn being my favorite season. One thing I especially love about it, are the pumpkins. I love the look of stacked pumpkins in pumpkin patches, jack-o-lanterns carved for Halloween, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pies with handmade whipped creme, and the lovely burnt orange color of all things pumpkin. I really love the exotic white pumpkins, and the fairyland pumpkins being sold at Trader Joes this year. If I were a wee Thumbalina type being, I would love to live in a hollowed out pumpkin house!
Just taking a minute to appreciate this lovely pumpkiny time of year!!!

Trying something new

2009-10-15T17:01:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to paint some new faces for awhile now and while I loved what I learned in Suzi Blu's class, I am really a lover of a more imperfect, edgier, more raw type of art. I recently discovered a blog written by a woman of color and I loved the idea of doing some paintings of women of color myself, so here's what I have played with the last two nights. I think I have a long way to go in the pursuit, but I love seeing these faces looking back at me when I wander into the room. As primitive as they look, they are not quite edgy enough for me, but I will continue to work on it. I am happy to have my hands back into my art supplies!

A turn in the path on the journey . . .

2009-10-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

Wow, I don't even know if I have any readers left. I've been away a long time. I have been in many different places over the last few months, and I don't mean like to Paris or Rome. I have been in a crappy place with my health, both physical and mental. I'm sure they are connected. They have taken me away from the things that I had used to define myself with. My art has suffered, my friendships have suffered, my relationship with myself has been on a downhill slide. I truly did not know if I would want to write about it here, but I feel a need to share my journey honestly with you. The reason I can write about it now is, I have turned the corner into a better place. I am becoming a firm believer in the body/soul connection. Taking care of myself allows me to be better at being the kind of person I want to be. Truth be known, I have not been taking good care of myself for quite some time. I allowed myself to gain a lot of weight, I didn't eat to nourish my body or my spirit well, I put my head in the sand about health issues because I didn't want to deal with them. Well, that has had a way of catching up with me. Diagnosed with diabetes, fatty liver (sounds awful doesn't it?!), and still a few more things to check out, I have had to come to grips with my health and I am feeling better for it. I don't want this blog to be about my health issues, and I personally will find this very boring if I have to write about it much longer, but I feel I need to explain my absence from this place I have liked to come to and have been missing. My creative juices are starting to flow again. I am listening to an urge that is telling me to create with my own voice. I am glad to be back. In my isolation, I have missed being with you.

Checking in and tuning out!

2009-09-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

I have just given myself the luxury of spending two whole days reading a wonderful book by a new author, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I could not put this book down, and while it was a pretty big book (444 pages), I loved every minute of reading it! I came to have a great fondness for the characters and their responses to their lives and I can not wait for her next novel to be released (I hope there will be a next one!!). The experience of tuning everything out for two days, relaxing under the fan, drinking iced teas and totally losing myself in this story was a treat for body and soul! Funny how I am using my blog for book and movie reviews!
I am seeing an odd pattern of once a month posting to my blog and I am wondering what that has to say about my relationship to this space. I know I have been sitting quietly these last couple of weeks, not creating at the usual pace. At 54 I am practicing my right to not have to do things that no longer feel right for me. I am getting better at listening to my heart and while I am not graceful at it yet, I am clumsily practicing voicing my desires out loud. I am realizing that while something may be not be right for me, it does not mean that it makes you wrong. I am getting the opportunity to practice loving kindness. Ahh, so this is where I find myself today, happy to have a wonderful story settling inside of me, grateful that I am able to continue to stretch and grow into my potential and making my peace with the heat of the summer!

Wow, summer is flying by!

2009-08-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been this long since I last posted here! I have been having such a creative time this summer and I'm loving it! It reminds me of the carefree days of summer of my youth and while I don't like the heat of summer, I love the carefree feeling of summer. Today was the day to digest the fun and information learned in the Suzi Blu's class I was gifted from my BFF yesterday! I have been learning tons in the on line class, but it was a big help to have in person instruction and feedback. Suzi brought her friend Mara to help and that was an excellent decision. She also brought her little friend GiGi who was the absolute best with that large group of women all clamoring for Suzi's attention! I also was able to take another class with Karen O'Brien recently, and loved taking the next step with her techniques. So I am working on trying to keep it all in balance and took myself to see Julie & Julia today. I loved Meryl Streep's performance - award winning in my book! All that delicious food made you drool during the show! I am reading a good book right now, The Five Things we Cannot Change and the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them by David Richo. It's the type of book I am highlighting like crazy and writing notes in the margins. When I finish it, I am going to go back and read it again. So in the forward movement of my life, I am happy. Making satisfying art, good reading, and there are rumors that another trip to Paris may be happening - it's all good today!

Lesson 5 and at the half way mark . . .

2009-07-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a busy week or art, b-day celebration, reading and a new online class starting up with SuziBlu. The pictures posted are the 5th lesson in Julie Prichard's Layer of Love class. The object was to find a picture as inspiration and use the colors to create our piece. Well, my inspiration was a bit lighter in color, but I love the richness of the purples and golden colors my finished painting turned out to have. By the fifth lesson I can tell I am getting more comfortable with the process and can't wait to use these pages in a journal at the end of class. Julie is starting a journal class in September, I think I may just have to take a stab at that one, too! Yesterday I saw the Body Works exhibit in Balboa Park and it was fascinating! A fun day of lunch at the Prado for Linda's B-day and then an afternoon at an excellent museum exhibit. Last night was the Affirmation Card exchange group and after that - home to bed, it was a full day! My days are filled with art and at night I find myself dreaming of colors and shading and mastering technique. I am visiting with my mom and sister next week, but will be home in time to take another Karen O'Brien class at Stamping Details - I love her classes, can't wait to show you what we do in there!

Adding a little fiber art to my summer. . .

2009-07-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

I mentioned a few posts back that I am also working on KC Willis' Collage Camp piece. Well, I am not quite done, but am posting what I have done so far. A few more additions to this and I will be able to call it complete. This was a fun project and I would like to work on this on a smaller scale and put some into a book form. I also signed up for a clay working class online and will post my pictures from that class when it has dried a bit more. Oh, and did I mention I also signed up for a face sketching/poetry journal class online, also? Okay, now you see how obsessive I get when I find something I like. I couldn't just buy one pair of cute shoes, I'd have to buy them in 3 or four different colors! I'm not the only one am I?!!! This creative spurt is keeping me up until after midnight these days. It is nice that these are the long days of summer . . .

The painting continues . . .

2009-07-08T16:39:00.001-07:00

Today I am posting lesson 3 and 4 from Julie's class and I am loving this! I feel like I am learning so much and I love the way Julie has structured her class. I can see the progress I am making from my first attempts to just working through the 4th lesson. I am learning to trust my intuition and to find my way with the paint. That is a good feeling.
Speaking of good feelings, I have been lucky enough to work with a couple of groups of women this week and I am loving the sense of art community. I do like my alone time to create, but there is something fun about being with other people and chatting about the process. Ahhh, life is good.

Again, with the painting, lesson 2 .

2009-07-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

This is my painting from Julie's online painting class, lesson number 2: The Old Sea Calls to Me. I love the blues and greens, and I have to say, the colors are richer in person than the scanned image is portraying. I am learning a lot about layering and blending and creating interest in my pages, and I am loving it! I can't wait to work my way through all 9 lessons. Yup, you are going to have to see all nine! The next one is in golds and browns, loving the rich colors we are using and learning how to age my work.
Today is a very quiet 4th of July here in town, Happy Birthday America! J is on a long hike. I am trusting he is where he wants to be on the trail at this time. I am looking forward to hearing from him stating that he has completed his hike and is on his way home. I am doing painting lessons, finishing up some pieces in the art room that are waiting for final touches and making ribs and potato salad for our dinner! A pretty darn good day I would say!

Take a little red, a little blue . . .

2009-06-30T17:52:00.000-07:00

I have been excited about an online painting class that Julie Prichard is offering in her land of Lost Luggage! Today I took the plunge and did my first lesson and created a couple of fun pages! I was nervous to start, but it is not hard and it is actually very fun! Julie is a great teacher! this is my first attempt to do a painting class online and I like it! The class is still open for registration, so head on over to http://www.landoflostluggage.typepad.com and see what all the hoopla is about! I can't wait for the journaling class that starts this fall!
I also am doing an online class with KC Willis of Lipstick Ranch and I am almost done with my first piece for her Collage Camp. I will get that wrapped up and post a picture in the next couple of days! My summer vaction is definitely off to a good start!

Little bits and pieces . . .

2009-06-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

The piece I am sharing today was made with little bits and pieces I've picked up over time. When I thought about the words bits and pieces I was reminded of life and how the little bits and pieces of our days become our lives. Some of the pieces on this doll were given to me, likewise the wisdom given to me by my mom. Some were picked up off the ground, like things learned through the school of hard knocks. Some were bought to be used one day, similar to good times shared with those we love which carry us through the tougher times we have to face later.
When I first made this doll, I liked her. Then I looked at her and thought she looked too much like a robotic type warrior. Then I looked at her some more, and I softened to the way she is. Now when I pass her on the wall, she makes me smile. Thinking today about the bits and pieces and how they come together to create our lives.

Sunday morning reflections . . .

2009-06-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Settling back into the comfort of sitting here with my blog and letting a few ideas "spill on to the paper." I realized that I am resistant to being here when I find I haven't been creating and don't have new pictures to share everyday about my current project. I want to move beyond that and post new things when they happen, but give myself permission to come here when it may just be my words that I am creating with on any given day. I find myself wanting to take a time out with all the competition I have been imposing on myself in the creation process and allow myself the joy of just being in the process once again. I have missed that. I don't want to be justifying what I have been making or not making, and I want to honor my walk on my own path of discovery and achievement. And I want to stay connected with anyone who finds themselves on this page on any given day and wants to share where they are on their journey. It's the connection I crave, not the competition. Already my heart feels lighter for having shared this and I am happier for having been here today.

Some color in my art room . . .

2009-06-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

I have been in the mood for flowers lately. It may be because it is spring, it maybe because I can't resist the splash of color. The flowers I posted are made of silk, chiffon, organza, and tulle. I love the way the material responds to heat and creates that ruffled edge. The plaster flowers are just something I had to experiment with to see what would happen. I like the way they turned out and am happy to have a little stash of them to use on upcoming projects. I like it when I respond to that inner urge to just try something with no goal in mind other than to see what will happen. I am not always so brave in the real world, but it is easy to do in the art room! Hoping you have color and/or courage in your day today.

What did you do today?

2009-05-27T20:21:00.000-07:00

I have been without my digital camera and I have to say I have missed it! I have been working on flowers, fiber and plaster and I want to share them in pictures with you. The camera returns home on Friday so I can get some pictures posted over the weekend or the first part of next week. Today I went to the Visions Quilt Museum in San Diego and I love buying fibers and books there as much as I like looking at the exhibits. Today was no exception. I bought hand dyed cheese cloth in my favorite colors (pinks, purples and greens) and two very cool books, Fabric Art Collage by Rebekah Meier and From Image to Stitch by Maggie Grey. I love every book Maggie Grey has done, and this one makes me drool as well! My heart is leaning to fabric these days. I am blessed to have lots of choices when it comes time to creating! What are you working on these days?

While the cats away, the mice will play . . .

2009-05-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

My hubby is gone on his annual vacation to the "Old Time" music festival and that gives me total freedom to play any way I want! The first part of the week was rocky as he had cancelled flights, missed flights and way too many drives back and forth to the airport. But, it has settled into a good pattern from there! There was ATC group last night and I always enjoy spending time with this group of women. Wednesday was a play date with Debi and Kathie, each of us working on jewelry projects. Tuesday was lunch with Garnet and time spent playing in the art room working on plaster flowers and coloring some altered tins. I have been reading the new Stampington magazines, Sew Somerset and Art Quilting Studio, both have been making me drool. With uninterrupted hours of reading time, I have also been devouring Have You Found Her by Janice Erlbaum. For those of you familar with my quest for the Frozen Charlotte dolls, I finally was able to get them at Glitterfest in Tustin last weekend! I am a happy camper! Sometimes with all this unstructured time I find I don't focus and I feel like I am wasting time. But then my attention will light onto something and I relish the hours I can just be in the zone and not have to be in the real world for hours at a time! Today I have plaster flowers to color and little projects wanting to be finished on my art desk so I will wander to the back of the house and see what the day holds for me. Hoping your day holds some time to create for you.

Rich to have a mom and sister!

2009-05-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

I have been gone the past week visiting my mom and sister. May is the month of birthdays and Mothers Day and it's a tradition to head north to celebrate! What a good time we had. It's been a long time since I was able to celebrate my little sister's birthday with her on the actual birth date and we went to Morro Bay for the day in her honor. It was fun to play Scrabble together, I like it when the three of us get to play it together. I don't have a big family, but I feel rich with the family I have! I didn't create any art while I was gone, I read, played Scrabble, took walks and ate, oh my gosh, how we ate! This morning I read the following: ". . . what we're really after in life is a feeling, or a set of feelings, or an endless ocean of feelings, rather than piles of what George Carlin used to call "stuff"." My mom calls it creating memory bubbles to be stored up and treasured. I liked the memory bubbles built this past week. What feeling are you after today?