14 Secrets for a Happy Artist's Life

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments for July 14, 2008

2008-07-14T04:01:00.000-07:00

Mountain Moments

Thick impenetrable
clouds covering the green mountains
wisps of silver grey
breaking off
gently touching the earth
like tendrils of curls on a child's head
outline of birds
flying up into the sky
first you see them
then you don't
morning sun will burn off the cloud cover
for now
faeries could dance
unicorns walk across forest paths
trolls find their way back to caves
magic in the mountains
if you just believe

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Links for Backgrounds from Gena

2008-07-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

"Playing with backgrounds" by Lani

This came from Gena:

I have been looking for background techniques that might be fun for you to try if you so feel inclined. Below are a few links. Check them out if you wish...

1. Check out her easy as pie background, which is easy and so full of energizing color...

http://somethingtwocrowabout.typepad.com/something_two_crow_about/2006/08/easy_as_pie_bac.html

2. Here are some cool ATC backgrounds that you may want to try:
http://kucachoocrafts.wordpress.com/category/atc-background-techniques/

3. Here is another cool background, more for ATCs than for our purposes, but you never know, it could work with the tags, though would be a little more effort. Maybe sticky glue them all down together and make a big design over them...

http://www.artdolls.info/atc_backgrounds_cheater_style.html/

4. Last one here is for easy paste papers...

http://gomakesomething.com/ht/background/paste-papers/

Have fun and inspire with your tags!

Thanks Gena, these are fabulous!

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments for July 10, 2008

2008-07-12T13:34:00.001-07:00

Mountain Moments

Tendrils of silver grey white
clouds rising like fingers
reaching to grasp the sky
as they rise melting
into the air

Slips of color
flying past the upstairs windows
blues, blacks, brown, greys,red
birds swooping, ambling, waltzing
through the morning

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments for July 9, 2008

2008-07-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

Mountain Moments

Soft tiny brown feathers
lie around the feeders
black feather stands still
rising from the green grass
a brown thrasher came yesterday
a light brown robin size bird
ground feeder
mixing with the abundance of birds
Adolescent morning doves
are the comedians of the yard

a sleek young black cat arrived
this morning
heading right to the bird feeder
a light tap on the window
stopped him from hiding
in the ferns

pink glads like soliders in a line
follow peonies
everything orderly in the neighbor's garden
A new heady summer smell
white tall flowers like phlox
volunteering throughout the yard
mixed with Black eyed susans
letting nature rise where she will

Praying mantis, hummingbirds,
bees, wasps, unusual bugs,butterflies
every so often a dragonfly
flying around the yard

Each moment filled with the awe of summer
sounds, smells, and sights

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

What in your life is calling you?

2008-07-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

Wild iris blooming in Prospect (through the viewfinder).

From the Therma Collective "The Box"

And suddenly, out of the silence, someone whispered to me:
"You are the one. Come immediately!"

What in your life is calling you?
When all the noise is silenced,
the meetings adjourned,
the lists laid aside,
& the wild iris blooms by itself
in the dark forest,
what still pulls on your soul?
In the silence
between your heartbeats
hides a summons.
Do you hear it?
Name it, if you must,
or leave it forever nameless,
but why pretend it is not there?
Don't think for a momnet
the Mind
that designed the maple leaf,
the mountain, & the Milky Way,
(our endless need to love & be loved)
has forgotten you.
Listen!

Images from Gioia on the beach...

2008-07-07T07:19:00.001-07:00

Thank you, Gioia!

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments for June 27, 2008

2008-06-27T06:19:00.000-07:00

Photos by Carol Moore

Mountain Moments

As the sun was setting
daylilies were closing
vivid orange flowers
petals slowly moving
inward
capsizing upon themselves
chilled by night air
they hang
limp and tired
as the sun rises
new lilies opening
catching the sun
vibrant
alive
enticing butterflies
encouraging bees
vital life force
an orange daylily

Last year as part of an art project, I took photographs of the lilies every thirty minutes from closed to fully open.
To see a flower, you really have to look at the flower.
They are incredibly amazing.
May you take the time to ponder nature today.

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments for June 15, 2008 (Happy Father's Day)

2008-06-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

Mountain Moments

What is a miracle?
I have been pondering this question for several days.
And today, father's day
a word dances around in my mind
Life
The birth of a child, a bird, a butterfly
Mystery, joy, pain
Waking each morning
Thirty-one years ago, we became parents
The nine pound nine ounce son
Held gently in our arms
Ten fingers, ten toes
A miracle looking right into our faces
Understanding before the death of my father
The importance of saying I love you and
Holding your tongue
Watching our grandchild being born
Celebrating the ninetieth birthday of my father in law
Miracles are life
Each breath we take
Each moment we pause
Each flower that blooms
A butterfly landing in the palm of an outstretched hand
A father loving his children
Each day forever and always

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments for June 2, 2008

2008-06-03T04:16:00.000-07:00

Mountain Moments
Two tired girls
dirty barefeet
playing at the park
with granddaddy
sitting on church steps
sucking on honeysuckle flowers
Why are they called honeysuckle, I ask
Because they have honey
are sweet
and you suck on them
response from Maggie
Millie holds up a brown haggard blossom
These are the sweetest
they don't look like they would be sweet
as she bites into the honey
crumpled flowers and leaves
gathered for the compost
girls gathered for cool drinks

Receipe for Fun
Two girl friends age five and six
Flat plastic container
Bubbles
Plastic soda can holder with six circles
spatalua
bubble blowers
Mix all together on a sunny day
Watch the fun begin
Add a towel
Hose with several settings
for bubble spills
Spray

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Amulet Bag Swap for the 14 Secrets group

2008-05-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks Carolyn, Nell, Marilyn, Maria, Mary, Lore, Lorina, Kathy, Jan, Joyce, Gena, Darlene, Carol, and of course Deborah!

From Deborah Gilchrist:
Amulet bags, medicine bags, gris gris, charm, herb, mojo bags - by whatever name, they are designed to be a personal totem for the wearer, dispelling negativity and carrying whatever energy is needed. The traditional bag used by many cultures holds a charm or talisman (or a combination of several that can work together). There are subtle differences, from what I've read, for instance, between an amulet bag (intended for spiritual enhancement) and a medicine bag (which carries special accoutrements to encourage physical healing), but all are intended to bring the wearer in alignment with the energies she needs most at a given moment in her life, according to what is contained both within and without (embellishments/design). Traditionally, they are beaded or made of leather, but we are only limited by our own imagination!

Some links (also from Deborah):

I searched the web high and low and found several resources for beaded bag instructions. I did find one pattern also for a simple fabric bag and one for a lovely crocheted bag in several styles.

If you're interested in trying your hand at beading in a tubular peyote stitch:
http://www.angelfire.com/co2/beltana/peyote.html

Fabric pattern:
http://www.geocities.com/fullmoon_magic/sachets.html

Crocheted and beaded:
http://www.knitting-and.com/crochet/beaded-amulet-bags.htm

Crocheted 'lunch money' purse which could be adapted:
http://www.crochetnmore.com/lunchmoneypurse.htm

A little bit of history (and some photos near the bottom of the page):
http://www.native-languages.org/bags.htm

Some GORGEOUS beaded bags for inspiration:
http://www.stanford.edu/~jamila/amulet.html

And here are some intriguing and lovely medicine bags made of paper:
http://www.cjmorgan.com/paper-vessels/index.htm

Post From Patti Edomon

2008-05-13T14:05:00.001-07:00

Here's Patti Edmon's post about a workshop she and Carol Moore attended. Take a look.
Michael deMeng Assemblage Workshop

Here's a photo of Michael deMeng sharing his glowing commentary on Carol Moore's Morpheus box... I forgot to take a picture of mine:) but it should arrive any day along with everything else I crammed into the giant box I couldn't fit in my luggage!
It was so good to sit with Carol and make art for a day - though we were really busy, as you know, and chatted, but my focus was on: how in the world am I going to get 2 days of work done in the next few hours?! Carol, of course, nearly finished!

After two of the most intense, fun days of workshop, fingers still tacky with Dap and matt medium, evidence of Michael deMeng's signature colors spotting my hands (and, oops, a little on my clothes:), I must say his Assemblage workshop is a most amazing learning experience. I noticed as I worked well outside my 'box' (excuse the pun) how far I was stretching artistically, which isn't always possible in the comfort of one's own studio. Of course, that's what workshops are for; this, however, is my first one. Straight to the top. Studio to deMeng - ha. The Secrets of Rusty Things indeed, and verdigris and copper and burnt paper, and when I return home I will approach each new project from a radically altered point of view, in terms of technique, perspective and, well, joy.
A warm, witty and very funny man, Michael is the best kind of teacher - so outwardly comfortable in his own skin that if he does have an ego, he doesn't unpack it along with his favorite paints, tubes of goo, power tools and metal stuff. Rather than using formal, technical terms, he has his own vocabulary and, in the way thingy is so descriptive, we were able to spend all our time immersed in process rather than trying to decipher what exactly it was he was trying to convey.
For any of you who have yet to take his workshop, especially in my new favorite place - Saluda, North Carolina - big enough to sell Dap at the hardware store and small enough so that the diner is part of the same building - avail yourself of any and every opportunity. Pictures to come.

Check Patti's blog for more photos.

Great Tutorials on Joggles!

2008-05-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

Image from Joggles tutorial on tyvek.

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers in this group!

I just got my Sunday Joggles Newsletter and took a look at their Tutorials.

Pretty neat stuff, some of it (especially the Tyvek one and the altered lunch box):

http://www.joggles.com/tutorials.htm

Happy day!

Yours, Lani

Subversive Seeds of FUN and ART

(& free stuff)

http://14secretsforahappyartistslife.blogspot.com/

http://www.lanipuppetmaker.com/

http://lanipuppetmaker.blogspot.com/

Happy Mother's Day from Carol Moore!

2008-05-11T13:06:00.001-07:00

Mountian Moments

Laying on the worn gray sidewalk
Broken in half
Teal blue bird's egg
Holding the fragile shell
I glanced upward
pink dogwoods catching the breeze
baby bird somewhere nearby
feathers drying after breaking the shell

Mothers Day dawned overcast
Sun playing tricks
coming out
going back under blue gray clouds

Our children have broken their shells
College educated
Making their own nests
Spreading their wings
soaring

A day to remember with fondness mothers who have passed on
A day to reflect upon the joys of life with a mother who can still provide those hugs, kisses, and motherly truisms
Happy Mother's Day.

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments for May 7, 2008

2008-05-07T11:44:00.001-07:00

Mountain Moments

The flight pattern of a goldfinch
is like the cursive handwriting of a second grader
loop de loop and then freeform
emptying the copper bird bath
a goldfinch and I practically collided
startled off he flew
loop de loop to the closest bush
fresh water spilling into the bird bath
he flew quickly back to the thistle feeder
I dug into the rich black earth
planting dill, parsley, and lambs ears
weeding that stubborn grass
growing in deep knots
thinning baby radish
tiny slugs enjoying a delicacy
late afternoon
a male and female goldfinch sitting
on the edge of the birdbath
gingerly taking in water
blue jay careening to the feeder
loop de loop off they fly
bright yellow colors blending with spring green baby birds will soon be spreading their wings
flying in the mountains

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments for April 30, 2008

2008-04-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

Mountain Moments
Little brown sparrow
focusing on black capped seeds
feeding intently

The five seven five syllables of haiku
just doesn't seem to convey the softness of the feathers as the sunlight hits the small sweet sparrows as they feed on the birdfeeder right outside the kitchen window. I sit on the well worn wooden bench made by Ray eating cereal with prunes watching the sparrows dip their beaks into the seeds. Watching as they raise their heads guarding their perch. Small little birds feeding while the goldfinches feed from the thistle sock feeders.
We decided that one yard can only provide so many goldfinch areas to nest. This morning there were five on the feeders, more than the three that seem to be a permanent fixture.
Blackberry winter came with a heavy frost. Tomatoes protected. Eggshells being collected and drying.

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Coffee cards you'd like to see...

2008-04-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

While out in Seattle I got wind of the whole Starbucks' Coffee Card thing. I started thinking how cool it would be to design my own Coffee Cards and of course that's the point isn't it. You actually can personalize a coffee card on the Starbucks' website with their imagery. And then you would be even more keen to use Starbucks' rather than the little locally owned cafes. And of course I was thinking I'd like to try my hand at something really my own. One of my collages which would include a coffee cup in it. So what do you think? Want to design your own coffee card?

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments for April 25, 2008

2008-04-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

Mountain Moments

A pair of brown and white sparrows
edge dancing on the roof
as the early morning white light
glides across the metal tiles
the late night telephone call came
my friend, the cancer survivor
slipped quietly from this life
in her own bed
her daughter at her side
my husband put on his priestly collar
as I realized I would be at home
Maggie, our five year old grandchild
laying asleep

her family was there,
her husband, daughter,and sister
she was a quiet, kind, gentle, caring person
who went to every tupperware party, baby and wedding shower, girl scout cookie leader, remembered your birthday
with a card and or gift, supported the arts, came to every church event even cleaning the refrigerator twice a year
a smile and hug, a friendly word
she knew the importance of life
angels are rejoicing
tears are falling

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

I'm really enjoying the True Colors RR!!!

2008-04-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

Here's the slide show so far! What fun! The theme for my book was passion, because my color was red and I think of passion and all kinds of good associations from my early years in Taiwan.

And here's the quote that you can't read in the slide show.

"...great art is not a matter of a few virtuosi of the first rank. It is the result of the labours of thousands of faithful craftsmen who know that they are doomed to remain for ever outside the gates of the Paradise of Perfection, but who nevertheless will give the very best there is in them because the work they do means more to them than anything else in this world. They are the real tillers of the soil." -Hendrick Willem Van Loon

Red is splendid! And what is your passion?

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments for March 30, 2008

2008-03-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

Mountain Moments

Walking through
wet green grass
old fashioned purple violets
white and purple violets
are popping up all over the yard
violet seeds scatter with a soft wind
dandelions pepper the yard
furry yellow heads glowing
in the new spring green grass
dogwoods are holding onto blossoms
tulip poplars are beginning to
let loose of their flowers

I am stiff from following
the busy footsteps of a five year old
gone home
as my feet glide across the foot pedals
this second Sunday of Easter
I will leave the church to rest
in a quiet house
with the sounds of goldfinches
smells of daffodils in old green vases

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Playing with Photoshop

2008-03-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

Here's a collage sheet for you. Click to open, save to your computer, and print. Have fun and don't forget to post what you do with it!

Carol Moore's Mountain Moment for March 28, 2008

2008-03-29T04:25:00.001-07:00

Mountain Moments

Laying down in the soft green
spring grass of the back yard
side by side
blue sky
white clouds
we played
with my little eye I spy
we talked about the birds
plants growing in the yard
clouds became creatures
we became quiet
just looking at the sky
for a five year old
quiet is a major event
for me
it was taking time to breath

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Gioia's Spring Break!!! Just beautiful!

2008-03-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hi I went on spring break to the Outer Banks, NC, with the girls and Forrest, made fairy houses on the beach, and took this shot at dawn this morning. Fairy circle of sticks and shells in foreground.

Gioia Chilton, MA, ATR-BC
http://potomacarttherapyassociation.blogspot.com

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments from March 22, 2008

2008-03-22T12:23:00.001-07:00

Mountain Moments

Take thirteen children
four adults
dozens of hardboiled eggs
Saturday before Easter
combine with dyes and creativity
There were polka dotted,
sponge tie dye, beet, onion, cabbage, grape juice, tumeric dyed
oil based glittered eyes, food coloring
little circular colors put into plastic cups with one tablesoon vinegar and one half cup warm water
puff paints, fern and tansy leaf prints
white crayons, rubber bands,
water based markers which bleed in dye
dipping the egg in several colors
tomorrow there will be three dozen deviled eggs
made from eggs not dyed
at the annual Easter coffee hour
more like an adult Easter Basket food feast
The children over ten hide plastic eggs
Children under ten find eggs
My fingers wear dye rather well this time of year

Carol Ingram Moore
http://www.grannysarthouse.com
Take time to play, create, and have fun!

Another art journaling adventure from Suziblutube

2008-03-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

Carol Moore's Mountain Moments for March 21, 2008

2008-03-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Mountain Moments

Golden bodies gleaming
in the afternoon sunlight
dipping into the copper bird bath
bobbing up and down
into the circular bath
flying to a nearby redbud branch
beginning to leaf out
wild ginger spreading
jays and sparrows leaving
enough bird seed on the ground
to feed a flock of morning doves
I counted nine of them in the oak tree
reminded me of a rubber stamp
I bought at Random Arts
the outline of a tree
speckled with birds
With each day
the goldfinches are growing
brighter
must be due to the heavy feeding
from the three thistle seed feeders
Spring a glorious awakening of all things
grackles on the roof
starlings coming to call
slugs and snails hiding under decaying leaves
columbine unfolding
sticky sweet smells of blue, white, and pink
hyacinths fill the air
Come to the mountains, dear friends.