Friday Gratitude...

5 Good Things in my life...
1. Cupcakes with sprinkles that I made earlier this week.
2. I got a lot of work done today.
3. For the little summer nightie that Michael bought me a few weeks ago -- it is so comfy!
4. Pink and purple pens to make out postcards for friends
5. chick flicks to watch while Michael is out of town

3 Desktop Images

Wallpapers for your computer desktop....these were all made for 1024 x 768 screen resolution.

The top two have Fiona Apple lyrics on them.
To download
To download
To download

The Mermaid Chair

I went to bed at 2am. I woke up at 3:46 and it took a while to get to sleep. At 6:12 I woke up because I heard Michael - he was cleaning up a kitty cat accident. So I got up to gather trash as it was trash day. I laid back down around 6:30 but wasn't able to get to sleep. Mind just racing. So I got up at 7:19. We had breakfast and watched a West Wing before heading back to bed.

I was so scared I wasn't going to get to sleep. If I hadn't ended where I did in the book I am reading, I don't think I would have....I am reading The Mermaid Chair and she was describing 2 Chagall paintings (I have always liked his art). So I drifted away to one of the paintings and ended up dreaming about it...


Lovers in the Red Sky - the one I dreamed about

And then the other painting she talked about in the book...
La baie des Anges

So as I said I am reading The Mermaid Chair. I am half way through and I have had tears 5 times I think. When I went into the doctors office this afternoon, I had it in my hand and the nurse told me she had heard good things about it and asked what it was about and how I liked it. I told her that I felt it was about a woman going through her mid-life crisis. She said she could relate then - I said, "ME TOO" - which is why I am tearing up so much in the book. Things she talks about are hitting a little close to home for me. Not that I am having an affair - so anyone who has read the book please know that isn't what is hitting close to home. It is just some of her feelings of herself that are hitting close to home for me.

Friday Gratitude

Night - I am a night owl. I love the night sky. I love the energy that comes with the night for me. I don't think I could live very happily in dark environment. I do need sun. I just enjoy the night a little more.
Novels - I have been on a fiction kick lately and read many novels. I love the stories. I love that they slow down my brain and let me escape into the story for a little bit of time.
Naps - They are so nice! I especially like having naps with Michael. Snuggling up to him and just feel the warmth of his skin next to me. So comforting. So safe.
Noise - Although I love silence....just sitting in the quiet late night hours or early morning...I also like noise. When I am doing art work, cleaning and such I need noise...tv or music. And I enjoy that sound while being busy. Makes me feel not so alone - like I have company while doing those things.
Nature - Although nature really doesn't like me....I do like it. The trees, the leaves changing....the flowers blooming in the spring. The beautiful mountains of Colorado. The desert cliffs...red earth...tumbleweeds and just the vast open space of it. (Nature doesn't like me as I have lots of allergies that come from nature.)
Nose - to smell things with! Dinner simmering on the stove top, cookies coming out of the oven, a rose, fragrant wine, clean sheets on the bed, freshly mowed grass, cinnamon rolls out of the oven, vinegar - being a clean smell for me - because my Mom (and now I do too) clean with it, freshly popped popcorn that my Dad was making into popcorn balls as he loves them....so many good smells I am very thankful I have nose to smell them with!
Now - I try very hard to be aware of the present. To live in the now. So now is a pretty important word for me. And I am thankful for all the now gives me.
Next - And from the last word comes the this one...next. I am thankful what comes next. Although I live in the now, I enjoy the next. I think of with this word something from West Wing..."what's next?" In that context it was okay we have resolved this...what's next. Let's keep going forward. And so although I live in the now I do want to keeping going forward - to the next.
Notes - Notes..I make notes and lists. But I also like the little notes that I leave Michael to make him smile. Just recently he found one that I had really really buried in one of his equipment bags. He had to go out of town on a work assignment and I couldn't go with him so I did a ton of little notes all through out every bag he brought with him. The one he found had 2 little kitties that I colored and a princess tiara and then said the kitty cats and I miss you! I like leaving those little notes to make Michael smile. So I am thankful for notes that I make and leave.
Nourishment - I am thankful for the various forms of nourishment I get not only in food but connection with others, learning new things, creating art, meditating, exploring and all the other various forms of nourishment that come into my life and feed me.

(cropped image of Midwest atc)

Cleaning Day

Although I have been kind of down today I did get a lot accomplished. Made pancakes for breakfast, then cleaned, made bread, did a little work, and now I am going to go prep dinner. Michael requested mac-n-cheese. So I am making the a meal of comfort. Meatloaf, mac-n-cheese, mixed veggies and bread.

Tomorrow I need to clean bathrooms and wash the kitchen floor. I also want to start in on my studio. It is MESS! My studio is the room that I bring things when I don't know what I am going to do with them...do you have a place like that? Anyway because Michael and I were so busy before we left on vacation that stack of STUFF got very big. It seems like gremlins where I must have shined bright light on it, gave it water, fed it after midnight because the STUFF seemed to multiple and taken over my room.

OMG isn't this a cute summer cake! Mandy LOOK at it! I can totally see you making it! You have such a way with decorating cakes!

From today's Daily Om...
"Resistance tends to strengthen the energies it attempts to oppose by giving them power and energy to work against. Additionally, resistance keeps us from learning more about what we resist. In order to fully understand something, we must open to it enough to receive its energy; otherwise, we remain ignorant of its lessons. There is a Tibetan story of a monk who retreats to meditate in a cave only to be plagued by demons. He tries everything—chasing, fighting, hiding—to get the demons out of his cave, but the thing that finally works is surrender. He simply lets them have their way with him and only then do they disappear."

(cropped image of Balanced Living an atc - one of the first I made)

Friday Gratitude

I haven't done a gratitude list using a letter in a while so going to use the letter M tonight...

Michael - There will never be enough words or even the right words to express my gratitude for Michael. I am grateful that I found someone with so many wonderful qualities - funny, smart, handsome, sexy, generous, kind, talented, creative and much much more. I am grateful for the journey we share together. Thank you! I love you Michael!
Moni - I am grateful to my good friend Moni. I miss her so much. She always gave me support during hard time and to the ear to just hash things out. You are a good friend and I love you!
meditation - I am grateful for the time and practice of medication - it makes me feel better - more centered.
Michael Parkes - I really enjoy his art and grateful that he shares his talent through his beautiful, mysterious work.
mixed media art - I grateful for all the mix media works that inspire me to push myself as an artist.
music - It really is like the next word...music is a memory. I am grateful for the words, the sound that make memories or create an emotion in the moment that will be thought of and felt forever.
memories - I am grateful to all the wonderful memories I have...from those that are still here and for those that aren't...I do cherish them.
movies - grateful to the hours and hours of entertainment movies provide. And tomorrow night I will be watching Casino Royale and drooling!
mulled cider - I love mulled cider. It is not the season for it but in the fall it is a wonderful taste and aroma.
Mom - I am grateful to my Mom. She is a great Mom....gave me wonderful special times and supported me through all my life...good and bad times.

(image is a crop of Dream 58)

a box from my past

When at my parents, I picked up a box that my ex-husband sent to them years ago when he sold our house. It has been so very weird going through it. I am thankful for him sending it. The box has Grandmother Remember books that I gave both of my grandmother's. There were a ton of old letters and cards from when I was a little girl and teenager sent from friends. When I moved from North Dakota to Nebraska, I had forgotten the letters I did with my friends in North Dakota. Then there are a few letters where the name sounds familiar but I can't place a face at all or figure out how or why I know this person. But I have lots of letters from her. One thing I had been thinking about recently when we went through Omaha was a friend I had lost touch with long long ago. Anyway her married name was very long and difficult for me to spell so I could never remember it correctly to track her down but in the box there was her wedding invitation, announcement from the paper, program for her wedding and other little memorabilia several with her last name on it. So I did a search today and found an address so I am going to write her tomorrow.

(image cropped of Where's the Rest of the Alphabet?)

The Trip

I wrote up a little entry talking about the trip we took to go celebrate my parent's 40th anniversary over at the daily grind blog. It was a wonderful trip and I am so grateful for the time I had with my family celebrating my parents truly inspiring marriage.

Friday Gratitude

5 good things in my life...
1. We leave for our trip on Sunday and I am so excited. I can't wait to write about it when we get back.
2. dyed my hair so I don't feel so frumpy
3. The project Michael has been working on turned out so beautiful.
4. That the pharmacy filled my prescription even though they usually require 72 hours notice - I gave them 24....very nice of them! (didn't realize all my allergy meds were so low - I hadn't taken any in a while but with being around dogs plus my allergies just seem to always be worse in Denver.)
5. I am thankful for the crystal that Jeni sent me. Thank you Thank you! You know I will put it to good use!


(the photo is a cropped image of a collage I did on the front of a little notebook)

Busyness

We leave this coming weekend for Denver. So we are really really busy this week and of course on Sunday morning I woke up with a bright idea/project that will need to be done before we leave. Throw in I have never done anything like it so it a learning curve for me even though I software I am using is very easy. I have been working on that in all my spare time.

To add to the busyness of our lives - I had a migraine yesterday. It hit right out the blue no warning like there usually is and it was just a very odd feeling migraine. I get dizzy and have an upset stomach normally with a migraine but this was a different feeling brought on with the dizziness and the upset stomach. So that wasn't fun...and of course I don't need that this week.

Eight

We went to In the Garden Art Show & Sale. A friend had this piece in her house that I gushed over. She said she did a trade with him...a piece of his for one of hers. The piece she has was a fairly large assemblage. Anyway we have since seen his not only the assemblages but collage photography. Every time I see work by him - I say how much I like his work. It is just really interesting to me. So we are walking around the show and we come upon his stuff. I know my eyes just lite up. We were leaving the area and Michael asked if I wanted one of the assemblages. I said yes and went straight for the one with the 8. I love numbers in art (maybe some people have noticed that on my art lol)

The artist doesn't have a website - I think he should though!

John Anglim's...Eight...



(He does have a website for his band --- Flat Top Reed)

Friday Gratitude

5 Good Things...
1. I did lots of work on graphics and coding this week including creating a website for our friend's memorial.
2. Relaxed and had fun this week as well as getting quite a lot of work done.
3. Had breakfast at our new favorite breakfast place and had chinese this week at my favorite chinese resturant here.
4. found some pictures I was looking for a while back...finding other pictures that I want to frame
5. reading the Anita Blake series again (from the beginning) and remembering why I like(d) Laurell K. Hamilton (and happy to see some positive reviews for her new book.)


(image from a little magnet I made for some friends)

Weekend is HERE!

We went to Ocean's 13 yesterday. We both really enjoyed it but Ocean's is I would say one of Michael's favorites. Thursday's tend to be the day Michael tries not to do any work. When owning your own business you know how it can become a 24/7 thing as I remember all too well. So I am glad he makes an effort to take at least one day with no business.

I designed Michael a new work website last night and I really like it...now I just need my code to play nice with firefox so I can upload it and make it live! ugghh! But the image is a preview until I can get it coded right.

Tomorrow will be busy. Making a pie in the morning. Then we are going to the Art show and sale at the Gallery B&B. They will have their resident artists and also quite a few other artist and some other handmade goods. On the postcard we got for it there was a bracelet that looks so neat..like a weaving. After that we will be going to friends for dinner. They are always fun to hang out.

Recreated

Just thought it was an interesting Note from the Universe....

"Fear always goes away once two things are realized: First, you're a spiritual being. Second, nothing can ever be lost or taken from a spiritual being that cannot be recreated. Not pride, not money, not love."

In the Garden

....at The Gallery B&B

Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Art Show and Sale

There will a variety of fine art and crafts offered plus Maddie Mae will have brats and fresh salads available. The event itself is free but there will be a wonderful collection of art and crafts for sale!

Friday Gratitude

5 Good Things in my life...
1. Clean sheets on the bed. I love the smell of clean sheets.
2. Vanilla White Russian - yummy!
3. It is Friday!
4. Air conditioning.....it has been a little warm here!
5. Michael's phone ringing off the hook today. Now that might not seem like a great thing because it takes him away from me...but when you own your own business...it is really good! This week we celebrate a year of when he gave his notice and so I am just happy that things have went so well....and although I knew he is amazing I know it is always a scary process to venture out there on your own. I am very proud of him and happy for him. I know that with knowledge and talent he will keep moving forward.

(the image is from a watercolor/marker atc - The O Beast)

Friday Gratitude (on Saturday)

5 Good Things in my life...
1. A nice trip over to Denver!
2. Cold Stone Creamery! Yummy!
3. art - have been around a lot of inspiring people recently and just thankful for all the incredible art they do/give
4. mail love - I have received quite a bit of mail love recently and enjoyed it all!
5. Coming home to the kitty cats!

Art Tour

I really enjoyed this afternoon. We went to an art studios tour. There is a local art organization that planned what is called the Open Art Studio Tour. It is where local artists open up there studios for people to come and visit, look at their art, buy art, and so on. We first went to Diana Wood's studio. I have been in it a few times as I designed her website and Michael and I are friends with her and her husband. Her art is gorgeous! Beautiful colors and textures. I hope one day we are able to get a piece by her.

Then after that we went to another place...some people we know have space on their property for several artists plus they are a bed and breakfast (The Gallery Bed and Breakfast). Their property and the studios are simply amazing. While we were there someone said it is like being in Taos...and I was nodding. It is quite the artful paradise! We ended up buying a really pretty pottery bowl by Damian Rice. And then a painting by Dianna Fritzler of M&M's. Michael's initials being MM has meant he has collected M&M stuff over the years. So when I was flipping through a stack of work by Dianna I started squealing with when I saw the M&M's! I told Michael he NEEDED it for his office! He happened to agree! Dianna does landscapes, animals, still life...everyday things but all with vibrant color, wonderful texture and a lot of whimsy! All of her pieces are really so much fun! You just can't help look at them and feel good and smile! She is SO inspiring...she just has so many ideas and great energy! She has been very encouraging of me getting involved in the local art community. And after walking around and seeing all the art....it was very inspiring to me. I really wanted to come home and go to my studio right away and create but after having such a long day my body and brain couldn't handle it. This morning we had a photography shoot that was over an hour away. When we got back to town at a little after 1pm, we dropped equipment off and then left for the tour.

The bowl by Damain Rice...is it pretty? The colors are amazing...had to get photos of it from all sides as it so pretty!



M&M's by Dianna Fritzler....So FUN!

Friday Gratitude

Today I am going to do my Friday Gratitude using the letter L...
love - grateful for loving...giving and receiving in many ways
life - grateful for the life I have and lead
life journey - grateful to my life journey...grateful for being able to take the path I am on
laughter - grateful for the sound of friends and family laughing as well as the ability to laugh
Laurell k. Hamilton - grateful to her early books as they were entertaining plus they had special memories attached to them
lounging - grateful for the time to lounge and relax
lemons - grateful for the fresh smell, the flavor and the many things you can do with them
loyalty - grateful for loyalty that that is given to me and that I give. I am very loyal but not to the expense of myself (used to be to the point of being harmful to myself)
light - grateful for light...allowing me to see things....and even in ways I might not have seen without light shining just a certain way
lists - grateful for lists to give me gentle reminders and keep me up to speed
lip gloss and lipstick - grateful for lip gloss and lipstick that allow me to be girly girl
lips - grateful for lips the softness of them when we kiss..the way they move when speaking....plus Michael has very sexy lips!
language - grateful for language to communicate and expressive thoughts and feelings.
ladybugs - they are cute and colorful they always make me smile and make me think about all the wonders in nature.

(image of magnet that I made for a friend who was going through a rough time)

Friday Gratitude

1. Lemonade
2. Chinese take out
3. That today was beautiful...sunny, not to warm, little breeze.
4. For feeling tired (been having insomnia so feeling tired is good)
5. Michael...for being so good to me. He has been extremely supportive and loving during my sad days of grieving. He spoiled me with the shopping trip! He picked up take out for dinner this week! And just taking care of me and loving me! He is wonderful!

(atc - it was a themed atc swap - the them was Into the Sun - I made this one thinking abou the sun being my battery power at times. I am a night owl but I do need sun to keep me from getting blue.)

Daily Om....Many Times Over....

I had a bunch of Daily Om's flagged in my inbox so I am posting just a few of them here as I feel they were pretty good. Remember these are just snippets to read the whole Daily Om click on the links!

I always enjoy daily om - they inspire, enlighten and give me inner peace.

Your Allies On Life's Journey: Finding Your Tribe
Part of being human is the search for an individual identity. Bound to this strong need to establish a unique persona, however, is an equally intense desire for acceptance. It is when we find our individual tribes that both are satisfied. Our tribe members are those people who accept us as we are without reservation and gladly accompany us on our journeys of evolution. Among them, we feel free to be our imperfect selves, to engage unabashedly in the activities we enjoy, and to express our vulnerabilities by relying on our tribe for support. We feel comfortable investing our time and energy in the members of our tribe, and are equally comfortable allowing them to invest their resources in our development.


Foundations Of Evolution: Acknowledging Your Growth
Since personal evolution is most often a slow and gradual process, it can be difficult to recognize the scope of the changes taking place in our lives. Yet it is important that we regularly acknowledge our ongoing growth and reward ourselves for the many wonderful feats of self-improvement we have accomplished. When we intentionally contemplate our progress, we need never feel that we are languishing between past achievements and the realization of future goals.


Consuming To Heal: Filling Imaginary Voids
In our culture today, we are constantly encouraged to consume. This includes food as well as purchasing ever newer items that we may not need, often using money that we may not actually have. It could be that we are trying to fill a void we feel within ourselves, but if we take the time to examine it, we know deep inside that this is not the solution.


Choosing Not To Be A Target: Emotional Attacks
When someone attacks us emotionally, we may wonder what we did to rouse their anger, and we take their actions personally. We may ask ourselves what we could have done to compel them to behave or speak that way toward us. It's important to remember that there are no real targets in an emotional attack and that it is usually a way for the attacker to redirect their uncomfortable feelings away from themselves.


A Magical Mind: Wish
Wishes are important missives, expressing our heart's desire as well as our intention to create something new in our lives. When we wish for something, our consciousness opens to receiving it, like a flower unfolding its petals to receive a bee.


Lifting Pain's Veil: Bitterness
Divesting yourself of bitter feelings can be as simple as truly forgiving and moving on. Even when your bitterness has no concrete object, you can forgive situations too. Healing pain can be challenging but may be easier if you remind yourself that you are the only entity truly affected by your emotional state. In time, you will discover that letting go of your bitterness frees you to initiate the healing process and allows you to once again celebrate the possibility of the more wonderful life you deserve.

Friday Gratitude

Using the letter K for my gratitude list tonight...

karma - I believe in karma and am thankful for karma because it at times is the only thing that keeps me on the higher path when I am faced with a hard situation that has made me sometimes so emotional that rational thought seems to lag behind.
kindness - I am thankful for all those who have shown me kindness. I am thankful for the opportunity to be kind also. I like being able to help people out and show them kindness that has been shown to me.
Kevin Smith - I am grateful to Kevin Smith for making me laugh and just being so wonderfully real.

Kurt Halsey

- His art always makes me smile so I am grateful that he shares his works that make me feel all warm. (use quite a few of his works as icons/images here - such as the one on this entry)
kisses - I am very grateful for kisses...Michael gives me weak in the knees type kisses that make me melt into a puddle. I very grateful for his kisses. I also am thankful for just the act of kissing....it is a beautiful passionate act showing so much affection in it. It is something that can be done full of emotions from one end of the spectrum to the other.
kitchen - I think of the kitchen in my Grandma's farmhouse...it was the center of the house...the biggest room as it had the eating area attached to it...and everyone hung out there. It was warm and smelled so good. The kitchen was the heart of her home. And the love that came from there was apparent in all the people hanging out there. And that is something I feel my Grandma passed to my Mom as her kitchen has been the same way. As I grew up it always seemed to be the place to gather as she made it such a warm inviting personal space. I hope that the kitchen in our home is just as warm and loving as my Grandma and Mom's kitchens.

(little icon - is art by Kurt Halsey)

Pushing Art Aside....

I want to create but it never seems that I have the energy for it when I have the time for it. It is very frustrating. I was thinking about all the art I have seen in some friends studio as a stock pile ready for showings and such. And I just am not sure I have that time to get that together. I have a ton of stuff started. I just don't get the time to finish them or when I do have the time - my desire is to work on something new.

So I think about getting a stock pile up and making the time for it. And so I think oh in a month things will be better. I will make the time then. And a month comes and goes....2 months come and go...and nothing. And then I think about it again and it is in the midst of several work projects and or life just happens and my art aside is the first thing I put aside. Something that is so good for me, that I have such passion for and it is the thing I push aside. Really not very healthy of me.

But then of course I really examine my time....and see many times I could have done art and don't. And sometimes it is just energy. I just don't have the energy for it. But there are other times that I do and I don't create. Why? Because of fear still. I let that fear of creating stop me. And all the things that come with that.

A vicious circle.

Friday Gratitude

1. Daily OM - they really do remind me important lessons in my life
2. Notes from the Universe - they are quirky, fun and thoughtful
3. Ideal Bite - an email that I get daily giving little tips about living a more green lifestyle
4. Emails from friends that make me smile, cry, laugh and just be thankful to have so many wonderful friends in my life
5. Blogs - thankful for all the wonderful blogs I read out there that inspire, make me think and laugh.

(cropped image of an atc - Buddha Cat)

Day Trip

So tired. We left at noon for a little trip. It was only going to be the afternoon but at the last part of it we added on another little jog and it meant that we got home at 9:45pm. We had a really nice day though!

We saw snow and iced over lakes up at 10,839 feet. We had pretty spring weather in the lower altitudes. We had gravel back roads. We had lunch on top of Powderhorn overlooking the grand valley. And then we stopped at Gateway Caynon Resort for dinner at The Paradox Grill on the way home.

It was very nice day!

The photos are taken by Michael.

Friday Gratitude

So this week I am grateful for...and it has been a bad week so I do need to take a moment to look at the positives.

1) Migraine finally on the end cycle - almost not noticeable at the moment (crossing my fingers)
2) Grilled hotdogs so that they get all burnt and crisp are yummy! (Thank you Jessica for giving me that craving --- finally had 2 tonight instead of tuna fish sandwich!)
3) Kitty Cats actually slept in bed with me most of the night last night even though Michael wasn't home (usually they don't - they are his cats and you can tell when you see him with them)
4) Once Again with Feeling - the Buffy musical makes me sing with it because it is so good! Which is a good thing if you are me but maybe not a good thing for anyone listening....only the cats today.
5) No more snow!
6) No laundry to wash! (still need to fold a couple of loads)
7) Dishes done!
8) Emails from friends today (I hope I will get back to them all tonight.)
9) Warm fun cloud socks (Thank you Angie)!
10)My Micky mouse blanket. I have had it since college and I still sleep with it every night. It keeps me warm and comforts me when I am not feeling well...and missing Michael.
11) And since I listed my blanket I should list my Teddy Bear Fitz. He is SO loved that he look a little scraggly. Yes I am 39 years old and sleep with a Teddy Bear!
12) Feeling creative and hopefully now that migraine is lifting I can do some art...finish a few pieces I started last week.
13) Michael is working hard but sounds like everything is going very good...that is a very good thing! I miss him lots though...so will be glad when he is home!

(cropped image of an atc - Bottled Hope)

Snow?

I think someone forgot to tell Mother Nature it is April. We don't even get that much snow in the winter and right now it is snowing...huge huge snow flakes. Michael is leaving today to get to Denver for work. So I am little nervous about him driving over the mountains. I am staying behind. It is just so weird to look outside though and see snow and then remember it is April....April....not December...April.

Friday Gratitude

Doing a GRATITUDE with the letter J as my inspiration....

Jessica - is a very very good friend....who I love and adore! She has this sense of spirit radiates kindness, love and just a realness that is hard to find in this world. I have cried, vented, laughed, and been thoughtful with her...and appreciate her friendship more then I can put into words. I am very grateful to have Jessica in my life.
Jumbo Shrimp - I love seafood but especially shrimp and especially big jumbo shrimp: broiled, sauteed, fried, in a sauce, alone, or however I really like shrimp.
Just a girl - just a girl in the world....I am just a girl in the world doing what I do...trying to make the best of it.
Jelly Beans - It is almost time for Jelly Beans to hit the store. Yummy!
Jif Peanut Butter - creamy, smooth peanuty goodness! yum!
John William Waterhouse - Always enjoyed his works...can get lost in them. They have amazing colors and spirit coming from them
Joss Whedon - brilliant man - very grateful for the many wonderful hours of entertainment he has brought to me through Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly and Angel.
Journal - be it paper or online my journal has helped me grow as a person and so I am very grateful for the years of journaling.

(image: atc - life in a jar)

Friday Gratitude

I am thankful for....
1. The beautiful rose Michael gave me and that he is so thoughtful with doing things like that just because
2. That the art book I created gave me lots of satisfaction and that I get to see some wonderful images created by very talented artists when it finds it ways back to me.
3. And to go with the one above...thankful for so much inspiration going on around me right now.
4. Peanut butter sandwhiches!
5. That my migraine cycle seems to be ending.

Altered Book

I have 5 canvas' started. I have 4 altered books going - well 3 altered books and one handmade book. So I have been busy. But I am still fighting some frustration/self-doubts.

But I have been having a lot of fun on prepping this altered book as I am participating in an Altered Book Round Robin. A round robin is where it gets mailed to several people working its way back to original owner/artist. And so then this book will have all different works from different people.

So this is my book for the round robin....

The theme of is Words and Numbers. Eight artists are participating in this round robin.



The cover and then the rest of the book is on my website. Click on each thumbnail to get a bigger view of the book.

Friday Gratitude

Friday Gratitude using the letter ~ I ~

inspiration - there is so much inspiration out in the world. Sometimes I don't see it...maybe I don't want to see it. But more and more I see it...and I really do feel it coming to me more in the last year. I am very blessed to receive it and see it all sorts of forms.

Italian food - I really love pasta and just the flavors that come from Italian cooking...olive oil, garlic, basil I think are 3 staples of my cooking. So I am grateful to all the flavorful Italian food I have eaten and hope to eat for a long long time.

identity - I am grateful to know who I am....and not be afraid to acknowledge this is who I am.

integrity - One word that goes to the core of my beliefs. Integrity keeps me going forward and having faith in people and also lets others know I will not let them down and be true.

Internet - Well this one I am thankful for otherwise I wouldn't have been able to be even posting this fine list! I am very thankful for the Internet. I have met some amazing people via the Internet....including Michael so I am grateful for it.

icons - the little 100 x 100 pixel box that I use in each post because I am a visual person. I like to show emotions, likes and interests in a visual way as well as with words.

improvement - Always room for improvement and I am thankful for just growing and moving forward.

imperfect - I am grateful to be imperfect which kind of goes with the above one of improvement. But really why I am listing it is because I don't like things to be perfect. Especially when creating art. I don't measure. I don't want things even and perfect. I want things to just be as is...flawed, messy and beautiful in that.

India ink - I really like what India ink can do on paper. I am thankful for its inspiration, it movement, its feel from harsh to soft.

iconology - The word iconography literally means "image writing." And it something I have always enjoyed. I look at images and try to see their meaning, intent and significance. I especially enjoy looking at the symbols in religious iconology.

ice cream - yum! I am thankful for the cold cream treat! Ben and Jerry's Brownie Fudge is my favorite store bought in a carton. But Cold Stone Creamery is my absolute favorite. And I don't have a favorite mix or flavor I just go with what sounds good in the moment.

(cropped image of an atc - Into the Flesh V.1)

Living with Pain...

I have had several people ask me about living with pain (migraine pain). I usually don't go a week without one. And at times they are cycles where they last from 3 to 10 days. Every thing and every day with a migraine is measured. I wake up and gauge the level of pain...such as today is a 4...okay I might get away with coding or medium level of housework. If today was a 9 I wouldn't be able to get out of bed. And I would need everything quiet and black.(Pain scale)

Let me give an concrete example...lets say if I was to load/unload the dishwasher. I have to measure all the factors that goes into the task and the environment that surrounds it. So the kitchen has a window over the sink that has quite a bit of light coming through it. It also has a skylight and the adjoining dining room has a window too. So the kitchen is fairly lite up, light hurts my migraine and can cause it to spike if I don't watch it closely. Next smells affect me so the fragrance in dishwasher detergent, some foods residue when rinsing off plates and other dishes might bother me, if I need to scour something a little more I use vinegar and baking powder (vinegar is not the most pleasant smell). When I unload and load the dishwasher I then wipe the sink and counters down the smell of what I clean it with can make my migraine worse. I am overly sensitive to smell with a migraine so if the trash has onion peels from the night before so I could be heading to the bathroom after unloading/loading dishwasher because the smell might get to me. Also my strength when I have a migraine is just not full because if to have to really scrub a pan that is causing me to move more....which makes my heart rate up (even a little) and that causes my head to pound more. Bending up and down over the dishwasher - the motion - can aggravate my head too - making it spike. I am sure there are other factors I am missing too that I have to add in.

So I wake in the morning with a migraine I might not be able to do it because of all the things that go into that simple daily task. If I am lucky I might get to do it in stages...unload the top rack and then walk away for a while. A pain level of 3 or 4 in my migraine, I might be able to unload and load all at once but usually I do have to rest after because I do cause it to spike a little and by rest then I can get it back to a 3 or 4. If I start to push too much I can send it over and make it the pain level spike to a 7 quickly and stay that way for the rest of the day.

The thing about this all....that if I didn't do things when it is a 3 or 4 I would NEVER accomplish anything. But I do have to say some days when there have been a string of them back to back, I wonder where is my quality of life? I feel angry that I don't get to do some things because of the migraine. I also feel guilt because I can't accomplish or keep up with some things because of it.

So there it is...I try to live each day the best I can and get the most I can accomplished and pray and hope that the next day I won't have a migraine so that I can do even more.

(Okay one friend that I was discussing this post with asked me if I had ever heard of the spoon theory. I never had so she sent me a link. It does an excellent job describing it...I am thankful I don't live with something more than migraines...although they suck I know I could be worse off.)

(cropped image - ATC - Lost)

passing this on....

A Fat Girl Rant....

Friday Gratitude (on Saturday)

We had some hard news this week...of friends lossing loved ones. A friend lost his father this week and then we got a call last night and a friend lost her baby who was about 14 months old. We have lots of friends losing family lately. Michael has become one of the people they call first because of his memorial videos just are so touching. So although it is a hard time right now I still wanted to give thanks...for family and friends....they are blessings...each in their own way gives so much to me and I am very grateful.

(cropped image of Time)

Freebies!

Ten Two Studio does a give away for several holidays throughout the year. She has one going right now for St. Patrick's Day. They are free printable images to use in ATC's, artist sketch books and whatnot. Go check them out!

Friday Gratitude

1. Enjoying so many good books lately!
2. The weather being so nice that we have our windows open
3. Aveeno lotion - as my skin feels so dry right now and the lotion makes me feel not so itchy.
4. Casino Royale comes out next week on DVD!
5. Being able to design a new design for Michael's business website so that we can get that up properly.
6. Michael and I work really well as a team with web design
7. Stromboli that I made for dinner this week was oh so good!
8. Mail love!
9. a cup of tea...or a few cups

(crop of an atc - from a themed swap - Into the Flesh)

Graphic Art

The beginning of this month seems to be all graphic art. I have been doing some web design. As well as just playing with photoshop lots. The other day I made up some sample banners for Michael's site. We just kind of slapped something together to have something there. But never got around to actually designing him a nice site. So it is something we hope to be able to get to soon. Anyway, I played with photoshop the other day and came up with some really nice layers to make it look like almost handmade textured paper. I combined that with his photography. He said he loved all of them and will have a hard time choosing so I guess they came out pretty good!

Just a commentary....

* I am a dork.....cute and lovable though according to what Michael says but he does get a chuckle that I get into commentaries. I love listening to the commentary...when they provide them on movies - televisions shows. Michael bought Angel season 4 and 5 (yes we are going backwards but that is when Michael got hooked on Angel so thus season 4 and 5 first). And I am listening to the commentary on season 5 first episode and Joss is so GREAT! Anyway the little tidbits you get from commentary are just so great!

* A little tidbits I learned from commentary season 5 first episode - Joss is a Dixie Chick fan and he put had Fred putting that poster up in her office not only because of the political upset they caused but also because he is a huge fan of theirs. He also saw a photograph in that CD booklet that was of a sign that said "we are changing the way we do business." And he felt Fred was worried she wasn't going to be living up to department head that she was weak and not strong. And Joss thought Dixie Chicks are strong and basically so is Fred and so that would be coming out in season 5.


We ran some errands the other day and then ran into Tuesday Morning. We hadn't been in there in quite awhile. And we ended up buying a few things. When I moved and then moved again I got rid of lots of things like plates, silverware and glasses because those are really things to me that can be replaced easily. A well loved cookie sheet not so easy to replace so I kept things like that but didn't keep some dishes. When I moved in with Michael, him being a bachelor for quite a while he had mis-matched plates and silverware but GLASSES oh my! He had every size and full sets (more then one set on some) of juice, double old fashioned, tumblers, one other size that I think is for like a mixed drink maybe a highball or collins, several different types of wine glasses and then cordial, margarita, champagne, and a couple beer mugs. So we don't ever look at glasses because there are more then enough in this house. Today though of course I spotted on the back of the shelf that had that hand-blown glass feel. A set of 6 - all different colors. And showed them to Michael and he liked them too. He said, "more glasses?" So I am going to get ride of one set for this set.

lately...

• I have been suffering from a pretty big migraine cycle. It finally spiked to the point where Michael and I both thought he might be taking me to the ER the other night. Luckily I got it under control but since then it kind of knocked me on my butt. Yesterday it was still lingering and then today I just felt out of it and tired. So hopefully tomorrow I will feel more like myself. I have housework, website work, and art all piling up.


• We watched Mirrormask tonight. I really enjoyed it, but I liked Dave McKean's art before I saw the movie so I was pretty sure I would like the movie.


• Made yummy breakfast burritos this past week. (just like these.)
  

Friday Gratitude

Doing a letter today....H...

Heart - Heart...so many ways I am grateful for heart...heart of giving and receiving love and warmth and caring. My favorite quote is about following your path with heart and it is how I try to live my life. Times I have wanted to stomp my feet and get mad or am confused and unsure of what to do....I slow down and listen to my heart and it usually guides me clear and sure.

Health - I have migraines. I am not in the best of health but I am thankful for my health. I am thankful for living and breathing and enjoying each day.

Hope - It is a beautiful word with beautiful meaning. A wish for fulfillment of something...I have hope for many things in my life and my art has been my main reason for hope right now. Hopeful of where I am going with it.

Handmade - I love things that are handmade. I am grateful for the time and craft people put into homemade items. Like my slipper socks that my friend made....they are loved muchly.

Homemaking - Okay I am odd I like homemaking. I like making our home nice. I like the art of keeping a house. I like the zen to it.

Humor - I love to laugh...who doesn't...and so good humor is important. Michael has a great sense of humor and we laugh quite a bit.

Hugs - Hugs are good. I am grateful for hugs and the people that give me hugs!

Hands - I have a thing for hands and maybe it is the artist in me to notice other artists hands. They are so beautiful. I also am grateful for my hands....drawing, cutting, creating.

(crop of a design I did in college - Hand)

Frustration

It bothers me when I have so much creativity just swirling around but no time to create. I have captured some ideas with a few notes or quick sketches to help me out when I do have a block and don't know what to create or just when time to get to them. But it still frustrates me.

just a quick update

I have been busy with some art. Not as much as I would like though. I did some altered altoid tins/shrines (which I just realized I never uploaded to my website other then 2 of them on the forsale page but none under art). And then some magnets. I also am starting to alter a book for a round robin I am going to participate in.

This month was spent baking quite a bit which is a creative process for me also. I mailed out cookies to bunches of friends. It made them all very happy so that was good. (link is to my cooking blog that has pictures and recipes.)

Book Review....

I got a gift certificate for my birthday to Amazon and ended up buying a few art books. One was Claudien Hellmuth's Collage Discovery. Really most of the time I am not impressed by how-to-books in the collage or altered art sphere because they all seem to be a show case for art instead of really a how-to book. I like artist show case books too because not only are they usually incredible just to browse through with a cup of tea but they also are usually very inspiring. So when I see a book that says it is a technique book - I usually I am a little sceptical. But Collage Discovery is really a how-to book! This is hands down the one of best book I have seen on this subject. I probably own about 4/5 collage artist type books. Collage Discovery has good techniques, good instructions, good photographs to go along with the instruction and is just in general offers clear, helpful, practical advice for collage artists.

If you don't believe yourself to be an artist or creative, but would like to create I really urge you to pick up this book as I feel you would find practical, easy, straight-forward ideas to spark ideas in creating.

Things I have always wanted to learn how to do or had problems with when following other instructions, she explains in just a way that I got and now am able to do because of her clear instructions and techniques. Things I have dreamed about or seen in my head can now reach the canvas and paper because I have valuable insight on how to make it happen. This book has helped me as an artist and it has been exciting to see the transformation to my art as well as my process in creating.

Area Event...

If you are in the Grand Junction area....and want to pick up some good quality art for great prices make sure to check out this event....

5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.
The Art Center
1803 N 7th Street
Grand Junction, CO 81501

Admission: $20/person

Over 145 pieces of fine art, ceramics, Persian rugs, Russian Impressionists, and collectibles will be auctioned in a fund raiser for The Art Center's exhibition and education programs. Silent Auction from 5:30-6:45pm. Live auction starts at 7pm. Cash bar, hors d'ouevres.

Phone: 970-243-7337
http://www.gjartcenter.org

Michael and I each have works in it. He has his Barbwire I and II and I have Tap the Maidens.

A Good Step....

So this past weekend 2 pieces of mine were a part of a juried art exhibit. One of the pieces that I submited I also donated as part of a silent auction for charity. It didn't get their minimum bid on it (and many pieces from the sounds of it didn't get bids) and so they are sending it back to me. But I have already turned around and sold it because I had several people express interest in it.

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary." ~ Pablo Picasso

"The aim off art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." ~ Aristotle

Those two quotes come to mind when I think of the other piece I submitted. I created a triptych over a year ago. I knew there was something more that would come of it as they were just small little pieces....meant to be artist trading cards but when I was done with them they were a triptych and meant for something different. They struck a deep cord in me when I made them. I hung on to them. And then the news of this show came up immediatly the triptych came to mind. I knew what it represented when I made it but I couldn't find her name but that came to me at the same time. So I worked on them a little more adding some texture and demension to them and finally framing them.

I remember trying to talk myself out of entering. I thought they won't take any of the pieces. I was so scared but Michael and another friend of mine really encouraged me to just do it! And so I did and 2 of the 3 pieces I submitted were accepted. This really is the first show of its kind that I have participated in. I was very excited and yes it validated me as an artist. I guess I feel I shouldn't need the validation but it is nice...it is nice have at times. The show was this past weekend.

The person that ran the show called me within 10 minutes of the artist reception (which I couldn't be a part of since it was in Arizona) asking me if I was willing to sell the triptych as it was set just as an exhibit not a gallery type showing. She had several people express interest in it, but one of the people really connected with the piece. I said I needed to think about it as the person would be around that weekend if I was okay with selling it. I love sharing my art with others. I love that people want the pieces and that they see things in them that evoke emotions, ideas, dreams and such. The goal of all artists I believe is to sell their work. And I have been selling pieces here and there. But this piece...this was a major piece for me. And so I had make sure I was okay with parting with it plus Michael seemed really pleased with this piece too so I wanted to see if he was okay with parting with it too. He was fine...he knows what selling a piece of such power and energy could mean for me. And that was it....the person connected to it...they felt the energy...they felt the emotions. They felt something by looking at it.....it became theirs. And in the end that person got it. And that pleases me so much!

I found out that it sold for sure last night as the exhibit just went through the weekend and I was flying. I am happy that someone that really connected with the piece has it.

The piece is a little graphic...and people can be taken aback by it so I am happy to hear that so many liked it and connected to it.

We didn't have a chance to photograph them hanging all side by side before I had to ship it so I only have these photos...click the image to see a bigger version.


































Section 2257
Each is 6" x 6"
Mix Media

Tap the Maidens

8 x 10 - Mix Media - January 2007

click on image to see a larger view.

I really had fun doing this one. It was inspired by the music on the sheet on the piece.

Set of 4 Magnets

This is a set I gave a very good friend who inspires me in more ways then I can name or put words to it.

Collaged Magnets

Good thing or Bad thing...??

Is it a good thing or a bad thing that I got so caught up in painting that I almost took a drink of the water I rinse my brushes off with? Instead of my diet coke sitting on the other end of the table?

Thank goodness...I caught myself before I actually drank...not sure acrylic paint is really "good" for a person.

Going back to work!

Busy Busy Busy!

Michael opened his own business this summer and a lot of my time has been helping him out. So, I haven't had much time to devote to my art. I do NOW though!

And...

Of course....

I am scared. I always get this way when I haven't been able to touch it for a while. It is like you know when you haven't rode a bicycle in a while you wonder if you can really do it. Logically you know it will come back. But that....aniexty before actually peddling the pedals is there. And that is how I am with my art at the moment.

I have lots I can be doing. I have 2 art dolls sitting here just needing some final touches on one. I need to really get into the other. I have 3 tins primed. One started as a present. I have many canvas sitting here primed and ready to go and actually several things wrote down in my art journal on what I want to do with them. I had a couple book ideas floating around in my head too. Oh and I have 2 people approach me on commissioning works. It is just I am nervous....of what if I won't come out...what if they don't turn out...and all the what ifs that happen when I haven't touched things in a while.

So today I am taking the first step to get going. I am going to organize my art studio - but really it is a mess. And after I go through papers, paints, metal bits and pieces my fingers will ache to actually do something - at least that is how it has worked in the past.

Things on my list art related but not actual art: Set up Etsy shop, get sold pieces that were on sale off my website and new ones put up there and Etsy. I think I have some new pieces to upload too. I know that I never finished getting descriptions on each piece done on my website. And I need to get the graphic banner that is on my website here on my blog.* So I obviously have many things to do!

Oh and then reading that all through again...yep FEAR.

But I will get through it because I can't begin to express what art does FOR ME. These last few months of not being able to.....really affect my moods. I am much more balanced person when I able to create.


* I did that right after posting so that is done!