Omnium-Gatherum Arts

Change is Good!

2011-08-02T18:06:00.006-06:00

After a long absence from art journaling—due to many positive changes going on in my life—I'm feeling my mojo again and the creative spark has returned. New knee, new job, new art series I'm working on, new local art journaling group — things are definitely looking up! Maybe you can tell from the bright colors and images of this journal spread.

Illustration Friday - Asleep

2011-05-27T14:39:00.004-06:00

ASLEEP -- NOT!!!

The Princess and the Pea

A prince wanted to marry a princess, but she had to be a real princess. He traveled around the world looking for a wife but was always disappointed. One evening, a young woman claiming to be a real princess sought shelter from a storm at the prince's castle. The prince's mother decided to test the validity of the princess' claim by placing a pea in a stack of mattresses. There the young woman slept. In the morning she complained of having spent a sleepless night. The prince was thrilled! Only a real princess could feel a pea through all those mattresses. She became the prince's wife right away. And they slept just fine ever after.

Illustration Friday - Journey

2011-04-15T12:25:00.004-06:00

One of my art journal pages. I chose this one for IF because, after all,
isn't life really just one big JOURNEY here and beyond?

Full Circle, Back to Surrender

2011-03-14T23:24:00.004-06:00

After a bad couple of months in which I didn't feel creative, didn't feel like blogging, didn't feel engaged in life except for work, I'm on my way back. One week ago today I had knee replacement, but I had no idea that changing a part of myself physically would also fix my head. The last post I entered was about SURRENDER, and here I am again. I've had to surrender to this profoundly painful experience to realize that it has actually saved me from my own rut. I've surrendered to the pain and find that it has made me more strong in my determination to get better each day. I've surrendered to the 6-8 week removal from normal life in order to gain a serenity that only comes from rest, relaxation, acceptance, and plenty of time with myself and my thoughts. It was as though my life was screaming, "Somebody stop me!" ... and surrendering stopped me in my tracks.

"Surrender has never been my favorite word. I always thought it had only one meaning, which was to lose and be defeated. There is also a spiritual meaning to the word. To surrender is to accept that there is a waxing and waning rhythm to events and to trust that good things can happen without our needing to control them." -- Peter Block, Stewardship

Illustration Friday - Surrender

2011-01-28T09:11:00.005-07:00

Surrender

As luck would have it, I finished some new tiled boxes last week for an upcoming show. Shown is the top of one called "Surrender." Also pictured is the finished group of funky boxes.

Illustration Friday - Chicken

2011-01-14T20:29:00.003-07:00

Where would be be without the rubber chicken???
(goofy journal page)

Finally, Something I'm Keeping

2011-01-05T20:30:00.004-07:00

Table of Resolutions

I've wanted to design my own coffee table for years, and I just finished this one in time for a Christmas present to myself and my hubby. This is a 36" hardwood table on which I carved the design, then painted it with acrylics. It embodies all of my New Year resolutions for the entire year through all four seasons. The carved phrases around the edge are what I consider small ways to live better each day of the year. Happy 2011!

Illustration Friday - Mail

2010-12-17T18:40:00.003-07:00

This spread from my art journal is a play on words for this week's theme of "mail." All of the collaged paper dolls have cancelled stamps for their bodies. Just silly...
Happy Holidays!

A New Start

2010-12-12T15:06:00.003-07:00

The "Autumn" Tree

After a bit of a dry spell (discouragement, apathy, artistic block...) I'm back to producing new work and enjoying it again. This shot is part of my new carved 36" coffee table. I'm in the process of painting the trees and sky. This piece will be for my own home - first time in a long time that I've made something just for myself, not for sale. Nothing has ever felt so much "me" and it's bringing me so much joy. It's great that I can work on it a little bit each day, even if I'm doing other artwork. Even 15 minutes worth is a nice little painting session. I'm in my happy place again. :-)

Art & Soul 2010

2010-10-17T11:42:00.008-06:00

Work by Talented Workshop Students at Art & Soul

Dawn on the Columbia River, Washington State

Woods at the Oregon Coast

View of the Shore from the Woods, Oregon

I had a great time in Portland last week teaching a small class in pop-up art journaling at Art & Soul. Ray and I enjoyed the rest of the week in the Tri-Cities (WA), then back to the Oregon coast before coming home. Going back to work on Monday will be hard, but my mind and body feel so much relief from stress. Life is good.

Illustration Friday - Dessert

2010-09-04T12:13:00.006-06:00

My illustration for this week's topic is actually one of my journal pages. This was the very first page of a brand new hand-made journal. It contains a watercolor self-portrait that I also use for my blog. Can't remember why I painted a full-blown sundae on the page (the journal has since filled up pretty quickly). Maybe I was dieting and had dessert on the brain as a result...

Renaissance Reflection - SOLD

2010-08-14T17:04:00.005-06:00

This is a new piece I finished recently. It's a 16x20" mosaic mirror for the Ancient Cultures, Modern Artifacts show during August at the Wooden Cow Gallery, titled "Renaissance Reflection." It basically started with transfers of the Renaissance man and woman on either side of the pillars. One of the hardest works I've ever done, but I hope gallery viewers enjoy it.

Zentangle art (emphasis on the Zen)

2010-08-01T08:48:00.004-06:00

The Owl Family

2010-05-11T17:19:00.005-06:00

I work in a remote area way out on Kirtland AFB against the foothills of the Manzano Mountains. There is a resident family of great horned owls that makes our place their home, and all of us are thrilled to have them around. The pair of owls usually produces only one baby a year, but this year there were two chicks. They've been the talk of the campus for weeks as we watched mama owl faithfully sit on the eggs till they hatched, then protected her babies from predators and the elements until they were ready to fly a few days ago. The first picture shows mama and the babies at just two weeks. The little guy in the picture above (four weeks, about 15" tall) managed to fly over to the willow tree just outside my building, and he was there all day watching passers-by. We'll miss him when he takes off for good, all too soon.

Another Year Older

2010-04-24T11:17:00.006-06:00

I'm having my birthday on Monday, another year older. Although I think about the aging process (because my body reminds me of it all the time), I don't fear it because life will slow down and I'll do exactly as I please. I remember an old song by Simon and Garfunkel—a poem, really. The poem was sung over the voices of old people, and it was simple but moving.

Time it was
and what a time it was, it was...
A time of innocence,
A time of confidences.
Long ago, it must be,
I have a photograph.
Preserve your memories,
They're all that's left you.

Back to Artfest!

2010-03-21T10:25:00.005-06:00

Artfest Journal Pages

Tomorrow my son and I will be heading back to the Seattle area and Artfest 2010. This year I have the joy and privilege of teaching a class, as well as attending two other workshops. I've gone to Artfest each year since 2007, and it literally changed the direction of my creative life.

How can I describe an indescribable experience? A place to create from sun-up to sun-down, meet hundreds of creative people, be alone with yourself or surrounded by other artists, free of everyday worries and responsibilities, making art ALL DAY LONG in a beautiful place on the ocean. Ahhhh... that's ARTFEST.

For the Love of Art

2010-01-18T09:38:00.013-07:00

These pieces are in the "For the Love of Art" annual valentine's fundraiser for the Albuquerque Arts Alliance (soon to become Creative Albuquerque), January 15-29. The final silent auction is on the 29th and is always a great time. I've spent the past few months catching up on new work, commissions, and getting ready for Artfest in March.

I feel as if I've been in a cave, and in a way maybe I was. Sometimes I just have to put one foot in front of the other and stay on target. Not to worry, I'm not going to go all angsty — it's not like that. Between art and my regular job, I'm pretty well maxed out. So no more feeling guilty when I can't post blogs. I think I should just do what I can, when I can.

Illustration Friday - Music

2009-11-20T08:45:00.006-07:00

I'm reposting this for IF because I debated calling this piece either "Blue Velvet" or "Dancing with the Stars." If you look closely through the layers of this mixed media collage, you will see bits of sheet music around her as well as an old song title. I hope you can sense her carefree dancing to timeless music. I've always felt that good music should lift you up and make you lighter than air. Have a great weekend!
Regina

The Girlz

2009-11-01T08:24:00.010-07:00

So I've been thinking, if I could do anything I wanted for a living (assuming of course that it's something I LOVE to do rather than HAVE to do), it would be to make art, teach art workshops, and write art books. I already love the first two, but would jump at the chance to write. The last time I thought of writing, somebody published the same topic I wanted to, dang it.

I painted the girlz pictured here because I was dying to create something using Teesha Moore's awesome Zettiology rubber stamps. These are little 3x3" paintings that have a B&W checkered border around the sides. They're for a friend who wanted some little gifts for her co-workers for Christmas. Then I have a commission to paint several pairs of shoes for my boss. She saw the Artfest 2010 site and loved my artsy shoes that I'm going to teach.

I'm looking for an unfinished round coffee table (3-4') and want to carve and paint it. It's been on my back burner for about four years now. So much fun, so little time...

Finally Back Online!

2009-10-25T11:06:00.004-06:00

My computer went kaput about three weeks ago. Never realized just how much I'd miss it. I was able to browse and do emails with my iPod, but everything else went out the window with my hard drive. My son (and hero) Ross put in a new hard drive and reinstalled all my software, and I had just saved my important files on a flash drive the day before the hard drive crash. Spooky but true. So here's my latest finished project—it's a pouch that holds an accordion-sewn art journal. I'm going to do several things with this project: submit an article for a magazine, and propose it as a workshop. Now it's back to the studio to work on commissions for Christmas (already!).

October: Time for Dark Arts

2009-10-03T09:15:00.004-06:00

The Wooden Cow Gallery here in Albuquerque is currently running a show called "Into the Shadows: Exploring the Dark Arts." My show entry is the piece here, called Good Evening: Tribute to Hitchcock. Ever since I was a kid, I've been a huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock's work. Suspense, mystery, great storytelling—without gratuitous gore. I used to love Friday nights! My sibs and I would make popcorn, then watch Twilight Zone followed by Hitchcock. My favorite Hitch films have always been Vertigo and Rear Window. The assemblage started with a postage stamp of Hitchcock, then went darkly off from there. About 99% of my work doesn't have this edge (I tend towards the whimsical), so it was kinda fun to explore that side. Happy October!

Illustration Friday - "Pattern"

2009-09-26T08:47:00.007-06:00

A couple of years ago, I stumbled on a website about something called Zentangles. They're small drawings/doodlings that are a blast to create. Repeating patterns are soooo relaxing, yet they make great connections between right- and left-brain thinking. Even kids can create them. So I worked on two zentangled pages for my art journal and this is one of them. (BTW, the collaged bit at lower right is from images by artist Teesha Moore.) Try them sometime - learn about Zentangles at http://zentangle.com.

Awesome 9x9 Show

2009-09-15T18:13:00.010-06:00

A couple of my pieces (shown at the bottom) sold at the 9x9 show that started on 9/9/09, a very auspicious date. 9 artists, 9 works each, all 9x9", 9 hours to view. I'm also posting other sections of the show — it was great fun and we had an excellent turnout at the Factory on 5th Artspace in Albuquerque. Last year it was 8x8, next year will be 10x10 — don't know if I can survive that!!

I was honored to show my work with such an amazing group of artists - so many techniques!

Artist Robert Redus discussing his technique with showgoers.

Brain Games - SOLD

Just Another Brick in the Wall - SOLD

9 Kids & a Steampunk Parade

2009-07-26T09:57:00.003-06:00

Just finished this piece for an upcoming 9x9 show. I became interested in the Steampunk genre when I spotted an article on it a couple of issues ago in Somerset Studio. Since "whimsical" is my favorite style in the world, I was hooked. I had a ball doing this, especially scouting vintage images of kids that I wanted to use. They were combined with some images of old machinery, plus some gear hardware, acrylic paints, and copper thread. I love the Jules Vern-ish look of Steampunk, and might just do more in the future.

Getting Started

2009-07-13T20:05:00.004-06:00

I LOVE art supplies, all kinds. At the art supply store I'm like a kid in a candy shop - I want ALL OF IT! I especially like how the materials for a project look on my art table, just ready and waiting to "become" something. I will make another post when I'm finished with these supplies, to be used for a project called "The Journal Muse." Now this is bliss!

34 and Counting

2009-06-28T19:32:00.002-06:00

Ray and I are celebrating our 34th anniversary today. It means a lot of things, including the fact we've been married to each other for more than half of our lives. The time has gone so fast! Our sons are grown up, but Ray and I still enjoy talking with each other and just hanging out together. I don't need to be told how lucky I am. We've always loved each other, but the older we get, the better friends we are too. Ray and I know each other better than anybody else in the entire world. The picture above was a very happy time for us (among many) — we were awaiting our first child, Ross. The four happiest days of my life were our wedding day and the days my three sons were born. We may not be the richest people financially, but we have been blessed with the wealth of family. Life is good!

Illustration Friday - Drifting

2009-06-20T12:48:00.003-06:00

This 9x9 piece is entitled "The View from Cloud 9." That's what I'm doing these days - just drifting by as if on a cloud. That's what happiness will do...

I'm Teaching at Artfest!

2009-06-11T08:03:00.004-06:00

How amazing - just since my last blog, when I was questioning how to make an art-filled life happen, I got word that I will be teaching at Artfest 2010! Teaching at workshops and retreats has been a major goal of mine for some time, and now it will finally become reality. I read my Artfest notification e-mail and was absolutely speechless (for about 10 whole minutes), then went bonkers! Just attending Artfest the past few years has meant so much to me, as if a whole new door to art had swung wide open. If you've read my blog in the past year, you might have seen my painted shoes (above). That's the workshop I'll be teaching at Artfest. Incredible how life works!

9 Times 9 (+ melancholy...)

2009-06-07T13:42:00.010-06:00

This is a little bit of a 9x9 piece just finished, called "9 times 9: A Shrine to 9." At the moment I'm working on piece #4 out of 9 for a "number 9, number 9, number 9" art show to be held on 9/9/09 here in Albuquerque. My right brain is definitely getting a workout on this one. I'm glad to have so much to work on these days; making art is so much better than anything else I can think of doing. I was especially restless at my regular job this week—could barely stand to be there even though I'm part-time. My whole being longs for a life filled with creativity every single day. Just can't help myself—it's like a sickness! If anyone in Bloglandia has a suggestion for overcoming this longing, please pass it on. Or should I be asking myself, what can I do to bring an art-filled life to reality?

Inspiration

2009-05-23T10:46:00.010-06:00

I recently came across this poem that I simply love. It has to do with feeling that "spark" of creativity and inspiration within us and not ignoring it.

What in your life is calling you?
When all the noise is silenced,
the meetings adjourned,
the lists laid aside,
and the wild iris blooms by itself
in the dark forest,
what still pulls on your soul?

If the silence between your heartbeats
hides a summons,
Do you hear it?
Name it, if you must,
or leave it forever nameless,
by why pretend it is not there?

—The Terma Collective, "The Box: Remembering the Gift"

Artfest Journal Love

2009-05-17T11:17:00.011-06:00

I promised a couple of people (some time ago) that I'd post some pics of my new art journal that I made and bound with coptic stitch at Artfest 09. First of all, Pam Sussman's coptic stitch class was a blast. Second, it was the PERFECT THING for me to take my journaling to the next level—being able to bind them myself, something I had been struggling with.

The pristine journal with cigar box covers, ready to create pages. Each signature of the book is wrapped so I have these cool little inner flaps to journal on the back of.

Inside first page. To celebrate the fact that this journal is really all mine, I did a watercolor self-portrait. A thumbnail of this is now on my blog in "About Me."

A two-page spread, deliberately using some colors I don't normally use (especially purple). I've been working hard to make peace with purple... I got the wiggly stencil shapers from Tracy Moore at Artfest.

This two-page spread started with the cut-out of the chick with the cool hairdo. Just HAD to do something with that! Hard to tell from the picture, but the round circles are shiny pieces of red foil tape. Sometimes the perfect touch is right at hand.

This spread was done with a quote from Teesha Moore's collage papers, plus some wonderful little fairy transparencies. It shouldn't be legal to have this much fun, but I'm sure glad it is!
TTFN...

Life as Art

2009-05-08T23:45:00.008-06:00

Why plant the "usual" color of iris when you can
have a beautiful apricot color???
This is the only stem of this color that bloomed this year,
but it's 3 ft. tall!

Why stay beautiferous and sleek when you can
roll in the grass and get absolutely filthy???
This is our Bombay cat, Akasha (aka Kashi), THE most lovey cat ever.

The Picture Show

2009-04-28T21:50:00.010-06:00

This piece was made with a recycled tape reel from a huge copy machine at work. I have another reel stashed away, but I'm liking how this one turned out because I LOVE things that light up. I rigged it with mini-lights and had great fun using all kinds of media to construct it. The pictures were taken by Sharon Bloom from the Wooden Cow Gallery, where I'm a consigning artist. Nice job, Sharon!

Sacred Time, Sacred Space

2009-04-19T21:32:00.006-06:00

Portions of "Wish" mosaic collage, completed today.

People have asked me where I've been lately, because it sure hasn't been in Bloglandia. I've been everywhere and nowhere, and that's the truth. I feel as though I've been on a journey of sorts, not necessarily referring to specific places but to a slip in time. Time and space have become more sacred to me than ever. I've needed time without limits and agendas (other people's) to think, reorganize, drift, focus, and be more true to myself. And that's where the space comes in. While I'm in my office at work, I've needed a quiet space to focus on what needs to be done -- free of the noise of phones, people in the halls, the copy machine, all the distractions that chip away at my ability to focus. In my studio at home, I've needed a sacred space to create, play, and dream of where I want to go from here. I think artists do themselves a great disservice when they don't demand the sacredness of time and space. It's too easy to get caught up in the craziness of every day and before we know it, we're out of time and have had no nourishment to feed our spirit and let us know that what we dream of is just as important as what we get done.

"Poppy" box, completed yesterday.

Illustration Friday - Poise

2009-03-28T12:27:00.006-06:00

Charizma's rule of poise: When you can't get back up, just vogue.

Little Treasures (the Precious)

2009-03-23T20:27:00.011-06:00

Just look at the beautiferous treasures I bought in Santa Fe yesterday from my friend, Laura Stanziola! (Click on the image to see it up close.) I went up on a pleasant drive with some friends, and we stopped in Bernalillo for a nice breakfast on the way. Laura is a purveyor of all things old, funky and cool. She has turned about 1/3 of her lovely home into a little shop of treasures. She collects emphemera of all sorts, zillions of vintage pictures and negatives, books, cameras, trinkets, beads, doll parts, toys, jewelry, watch parts, bones, metal pieces, etc. If she doesn't have it, I figure I don't need it - ha! The thing that amazes me most about Laura is how organized she keeps her wares; every single item is individually priced, bagged, and inventoried BY HAND. She intentionally doesn't own a computer. When she provides you with a receipt, she lists every one of your items by hand, including its inventory number. She has amazingly small writing, yet it's absolutely legible. Yesterday Laura also showed us one of her personal journals, packed with her drawings and tiny writings. Amazing! She is also a very talented artist and showed us her current pieces - fascinating in their themes and execution. See why I go visit her about every 6 weeks - I'm totally hooked! BTW, you can read about Laura and her shop in Lynn Perrella's book, Art Making, Collections, and Obsessions. You'll see what I mean about her hand writing!

New Piece

2009-03-05T14:20:00.001-07:00

Why? Because life is just too serious lately.

Song to Spring

2009-03-05T12:58:00.004-07:00

I hope I'm not jumping the gun, but it's been in the 70s this week and I couldn't resist cranking the windows open at our house. Spring is my favorite season, not just because of the weather, but because it always feels like a time of renewal -- all things are made new and fresh again. I start looking forward to being out a lot more and my health being a lot better (hasn't been a good cold/flu season in the family). I especially love when things start blooming and the breezes carry the wonderful scents of lilacs, tulips, and irises. OK, now there I'm a little ahead of myself, but like I said, I'm looking forward to it. I have lots of artwork to catch up on, and now it's time to open up my studio window and let the fresh air in. A metaphor for life in general.

A "quiet" journal page

2009-02-22T08:06:00.004-07:00

Illustration Friday - Time

2009-02-07T09:58:00.004-07:00

I had posted this journal page about six months ago, but once again it seems appropriate. Funny how often that happens...

So There I Was...

2009-01-30T19:03:00.004-07:00

So there I was in Washington DC to teach a two-day class, and the weather was horrendous the whole time. AND ME WITHOUT MY JOURNALING SUPPLIES. Arghhh! That's like a smoker without cigarettes. I always pack my journaling stuff when I travel on any kind of trip, but NOOOOOO, not this time. So of course whenever I wasn't struggling to get to/from the class I was stuck at the hotel (ok, actually quite a nice place and they did have three channels of HBO), but I was dying to make some art journal pages. I had no scissors, colored pens or pencils, glue stick, collage stuff, etc. Then I started to obsess about it. (I want to journal, I want to journal, I want to journal...) until I was going stark-raving bonkers and it was all I could think about. I was finally going home on the fourth day, then missed my connection in Atlanta after the flight I was on taxied around and around and around the terminal looking for an empty gate. Followed by a six-hour wait at the Atlanta airport for the next (and final) flight out to Albuquerque. I went from shop to shop (and Atlanta airport is humongous) looking for stuff. Plenty of bookstores, candy stands, newsstands, restaurants, crap like that - but no journaling supplies. I was in full-on art withdrawal. By then I was ready to chew nails and spit out rust. So in sheer desperation, I got out my inkpen and started doodling on my used boarding pass. I could breathe again, I stopped sweating, I began to smile, and I was becoming myself again.....

Art Doesn't Have to be Pretty

2009-01-11T05:26:00.005-07:00

I've heard so much lately about "high art" and "low art" that I feel I must say something about art snobbery. Who decides what constitutes real art anyway? I believe that whatever you create, if it comes from your imagination and creativity, it's ART. Regardless of price. Some people (ok, many) have told me that I don't price my art high enough. Baloney! I'd rather have someone really love a piece and be able to afford it than to write in my bio that I sell my art at such-and-such hooty-snooty gallery. I'm not kidding! In these tough economic times there should be a market for anybody who likes art. And nobody should be able to tell them what they ought to like. I think these thoughts were triggered by someone who recently asked me if I felt "degraded" to have my work next to so-and-so's pieces. Yikes - such snobbery! So of course, I will never get rich from my artwork. And you know what? I'm OK with that. End of rant...

Illustration Friday - Voices

2008-12-20T15:57:00.008-07:00

Fall on your knees

Oh hear the angel voices

Oh night divine

Oh night when Christ was born

Christmas blessings to all who view this blog --

from Regina

Illustration Friday - Similar

2008-12-05T21:29:00.007-07:00

Ever wonder if your kid has been seeing someone

just a tad too much?

Something New

2008-12-02T18:04:00.005-07:00

Today I changed to a new banner for my blog. I love the Picasso quote. This is actually a small piece (2.75"x4.5") that I plan to donate to the mystery prize box at the "What's in the Box" show at the Wooden Cow on Dec 5. Hope the show goes well - everybody could use some Christmas bucks.
So after making eight new pieces of art in the past few weeks, I decided that my next series will be clocks. Not sure about the designs yet, but I want to do FUNKY stuff. I'm just in one of those moods. Maybe it's the holidays, but who cares? I'm feeling so much better about everything and I even went back to work today after being out for three weeks. I like to be busy - just not CRAZY busy like I was in Oct/Nov.
I'm very excited! I got an e-mail a few days ago telling me that one of my pieces has been selected for publication in Somerset Studio for the Jan/Feb issue! :-) It's been several years since I submitted to them, and this is only my second submission. Now I'm fired up to try writing an article for one of the Stampington magazines. Why not? I write all the time for my job, why not for fun???

Illustration Friday - Balloon

2008-11-30T17:10:00.004-07:00

My bubble (balloon) gets burst fairly often. Oh well - s#%t happens.

Deju Vu (all over again)

2008-11-21T16:20:00.008-07:00

During the past few months it's been harder than ever to catch up on blogging. Hopefully I'll be back in rhythm now that my latest knee operation is over and I'm beginning to feel like myself again. My sleep is completely screwed up, but I stopped taking the pain meds and should be able to sleep more naturally now - not sleeping all day and then up at night. By now I think I've put my orthopaedic surgeon(s)' kids through college with all this crappola, so I'm hoping for the best from now on.

I've discovered during the last year that it hasn't been all bad to go through challenging times with my health. Guess I should explain that. When you're full tilt into recovering from something, you figure out in a hurry what things in your life are important, and what things are not. Life is reduced to the simplest of daily events: take a shower, try to eat, get lots of rest, do relaxing things (because that's all you're capable of). It's like having your batteries recharged, even though it's a slow process that requires patience. Even wanting to make art is taking time.

So last night when I couldn't sleep, I laid in bed making up haikus. Some were silly, but I kinda like this one about recovering from pain:

Where does the pain go?
The blessing of amnesia,
blissful forgetting.

So I'm moving on and getting my mojo back. Thank you, my guardian angels.

Cats and Misc.

2008-10-16T14:47:00.006-06:00

I did this page because I LOVE cats, especially my kitty, Akhasha (I call her "Kashi" for short). I've done other artwork in the past about cats, but this journal page was pure play.

I've been traveling (a lot) and have been sick (a lot). The travel did me good because it gave me a chance to get away from a lot of pressures and negativity, also to get my energy back. I drove by myself from NM to IL to pick up a motorcycle for my hubby from his brother. The fall colors during my trip were spectacular - reds, purples, oranges, yellows. My favorites were the maples. I passed a lot of farms in Missouri and Illinois, where people still have the wonderful tradition of decorating their porches and yards with loads of pumpkins, haystacks, scarecrows and other cool stuff. Just about everybody does in the midwest to celebrate the fall harvest. NM is a real dud by comparison. Wish I'd remembered to take my camera...

The Wooden Cow Gallery had its grand opening on Friday, Oct. 17. Gobs of people attended, scarfed up the food and bevs, and bought loads of art. One of my pieces sold too, so I'm very pleased. Went home with a splitting headache - even though the grand opening was awesome, it was still stressful. Sure hope we can keep it up, especially in these iffy economic times.

Pressure!!!

2008-09-19T07:47:00.011-06:00

It's been a while since I've had time to blog. I've been burning the candle at both ends between my regular job and opening the Wooden Cow Gallery with my fellow Cows. Having been stressed out to the max lately and noticing all the bad signs in myself (irritable, moody), it's made me hypersensitive to noticing stressed out people everywhere. Just during my recent trip to the Baltimore/D.C. area, I witnessed two people going completely postal on airline personnel. One lady was even escorted out of BWI in handcuffs, still spewing threats of vendetta. People in traffic aren't much better. They cut each other off, yell, honk, and follow closely enough to smell your perfume. So what do I do? I think all I can do is watch for the signs in myself and try to head them off before I do anything stupid. And also try to keep from getting sucked down the slippery slope myself! Time for a bubble bath, a glass of wine, and an Il Divo CD.

The Blessings of Family

2008-08-30T18:29:00.007-06:00

I just got back from a hugely fun time spent with my extended family. My niece Katie was a gorgeous, glowing bride and the whole family loves her hubby Dan. Everybody had a great time at their wedding, lots of tears and laughs. My brother John (father of the bride) even made it through his big speech without losing it. The only thing that could have made it better is if my own hubby could have gone. *SIGH* After the family doings I got to spend some time with my sister Cath in Oak Park, Illinois. All our lives we've been such close friends as well as sisters. We saw plenty of artsy stuff and I hated to leave. During my trip, during one of my few down times, I created the journal page shown here. It speaks to how I feel about my family - they mean everything to me!

Off to Chicago

2008-08-20T19:34:00.007-06:00

FINALLY - I'm taking a vacation to see family and go to my niece's wedding. Even better, I'll have time for a week of R&R and enjoy some art museums and galleries in Chicago. I love my sister's place in Oak Park, smack dab in the Frank Lloyd Wright district. Amazingly gifted architect/artist. My sister's home is all furnished in Arts & Crafts pieces; she's got a very tasteful eye and has worked hard for such a nice place. And her windows face a huge, lovely shady park. I'll definitely be taking along some journaling supplies and try to do that each evening. I come back home on the 28th and then it's a weekend of motorcycle school to get my license to ride my new scooter. So good to get away from the pressures of work and the upcoming gallery opening. A real battery recharging!

I Could Use Some Ennui

2008-08-12T19:08:00.005-06:00

Time is ridiculous in its speed! I'll never understand people who say they're bored -- what the heck is that??? Hmmm... So what's the opposite of bored? Harried, frantic, over-challenged? All of the above, I'd say. If anyone can think of a good descriptive opposite for "bored" let me know, cuz I'm there. I'd love to experience a day of good old ennui and laziness any day now. But here's the really bad thing: lately I've double-booked my time more than I can track. Examples: two appointments at the same time, two people to pick up at the same time, you get the idea. The easy thing would be to write appointments/tasks down in something like a day-timer or a PDA, but then I won't remember where I put it. Arghhhh!

Illustration Friday - Poof!

2008-08-01T15:06:00.007-06:00

Whadya mean, "it's a little poofy" ???

You might recognize my character, Charizma. I created her a couple of years ago and enjoy putting her in some of my IF entries, as well as on greeting cards, etc. Poor Charizma - she tries so hard to be tres chic but never quite gets there... Kinda like her creator.

Illustration Friday - Enough

2008-07-20T16:32:00.006-06:00

Here in the Southwest the heat of June and July are almost unrelenting (over 90 degrees). Although the climate is usually very dry, our "monsoon" season happens in July when it rains briefly in the afternoon, providing the only relief from the sizzle. On summer days when I have to be outside, the heat begins to weigh on me anytime after 10 a.m. Naps, showers, air conditioning, and tons of liquids are the order of the day. Can't stand being in my car for any reason. I recently did this journal page when I was completely fed up with the heat. ENOUGH!

Mother & Son Journal Pages

2008-07-06T15:46:00.007-06:00

It's about time I'm getting back to art journaling again! My son Reid is visiting for the 4th of July weekend from Denver, and we had a great time creating art journal pages together. Our styles are very different - I tend to be more whimsical and he likes to take on more serious subjects (such as the environment). He had a good time just foraging through all of my image files, papers, and art supplies. I do love my studio because after all these years I've built it up to being well-stocked with materials I enjoy using all the time. My page is called "Excited Girl" and Reid's is untitled.

Vintage Beauty

2008-06-23T09:46:00.004-06:00

I love little vintage bits and pieces. My friend Raine and I went on a field trip Saturday to our favorite source for such goodies and as usual, came back with a real treasure trove. The small selection of pieces here are parts of some long-ago jewelry or decorations, which always leads me to try and picture the original bigger pieces they used to be part of. They must have been spectacular! When I sort through the wonderful stash of stuff, I choose pieces based on picturing them as repurposed in one of my mosaic collages. Inspiration galore...

Not So Fast, Regina

2008-06-12T18:19:00.003-06:00

Life has been loaded with surprises lately, some good and some bad. "Good" are the things happening in the artful part of my life, the part that makes me happy. Weird stuff at work, though. As illustrated in this journal page, I don't really have a thing figured out in general. Somehow I think I'm not meant to know everything that's in store for me. It's as though the universe says, "Here's the deal... oh wait, not so fast, Regina."

Now THIS Was Fun!

2008-06-04T16:39:00.017-06:00

(with pop-ups open)

(flat with pop-ups closed)

This art journal page was the most fun I've ever had doing a page. It's a double fold-out with pop-ups and interactives all over the place. "Sweet Mistress Spring" opens out into a cascading pot of flowering vines. The frog at the bottom opens his mouth wide to go after the dragonfly, which is a slider that swoops down to tease the frog. The flowerpot at the lower left has a ladybug that swivels around on the tasty blooms. The butterfly on the left has wings that open and close. The little picket fence at the bottom opens to reveal a slithering snake in the garden. The birds in the tree are a slider so they flit back and forth. And the "dream" bug opens to reveal a little thicket. Another thing that made this so much fun to do was that I worked with so many different collage/drawing materials: magazine pictures, watercolors, caran d'arche watercolor crayons, rubber stamps and inks, rub-ons, acrylic paints and markers. The quotes are by Walt Whitman and Aristotle. Now I'm inspired to pass on the love and teach a class in pop-up art journal pages. (Yep, I thought of it first.) Now THIS kind of journaling really makes me happy. And yep, I am a kid at heart - always have been, always will be.

Back in Action

2008-05-23T15:09:00.003-06:00

I've been missing in action for about two weeks. Many issues to deal with, but I'm over and through it all so life is good again. I just finished a commission that wasn't my usual taste or style, but getting paid was nice. Back to playing a little before I dig deep and move on to a more serious piece in the next couple of days. I hope to get loads of artwork done over the holiday weekend. I miss doing mosaic collage and think it's the way to go on my next piece or two, or three, or four... The journal page I've posted here carries a lot of meaning for me. Lately it seems as though people rarely say what they mean, but I know what they mean just the same -- their faces and eyes speak volumes if we really look.

Thinking at 1:30 a.m. (When I Should be Asleep)

2008-05-09T01:07:00.005-06:00

So here I sit at the computer at 1:30 a.m. (last night? this morning?) unable to sleep because I'm once again off schedule. ARGH!! Have you ever noticed that your thoughts get really weird in the wee hours? I'm listening to the crickets outside. They chirp in chorus for a bit and then all of them stop at the same time as if they're listening back. Eerie - they know I'm here. I'm having thoughts about missing work this week because my back went wacko, and then I realize that work will be waiting when I return next week. (Not important!) I'm thinking about all the artwork I'm behind on because I chose to play in my art journal instead. (Not important! I'll get it done, just like I always do.) I'm thinking about my son moving to California at the end of this month. (OK, now that's important.) But he's a grown man and he will be happy, so I am happy for him. But I'll miss him terribly. I'm listening to the quiet of the house and the neighborhood, which I like. It's peaceful and decent people are all in bed, asleep. Which is where I'm finally going.

Illustration Friday - Seed

2008-05-04T18:42:00.002-06:00

Seems like I keep having to learn this lesson over and over again...

A Simple Gift

2008-04-30T12:24:00.006-06:00

My son Ryan brought me a stem of lilies (with one bloom) for my birthday Saturday. He was so humble--and actually apologetic--that it was all he could afford. It meant more to me than an armload of posies because (a) he remembered my birthday, (b) he knows I love the lily family, and (c) his gift has since tripled in size. It was a vivid reminder that sometimes we forget how a single, small act can make someone's day. He certainly made mine--just look at these spectacular beauties! The fourth bloom is close to opening today. Such elegant beauty to enjoy all week.

A Journal Page

2008-04-21T15:37:00.006-06:00

I'm finally getting back to art journaling again. Seems like a long time since I've had the chance to just PLAY with it. Good thing I had some time today - I've been having journal withdrawal symptoms. A day without journaling is, well... no friggin good. In my journal I can create and play just for me, although I do enjoy sharing the joy I get from it. Over the weekend I got some new shelving and cubbies for better organization of my studio and I'm almost finished sorting everything out. Can't believe it's the same place! Happy Monday --
Regina

Illustration Friday - Fail

2008-04-13T12:21:00.004-06:00

I'm a bit late posting for IF, but I've been meaning to get back into the swing (and discipline) of it for some time now. The quote in this illo is by the late Beverly Sills, the fabulous opera diva. The picture is much 'darker' than my usual, but I think its message is still a positive one that's worth remembering when I'm discouraged or feeling down. May all have a great week!

Art Shoes!

2008-03-29T11:56:00.000-06:00

These are pics of my first-ever art shoes. I just had to get cats in there (I love kitties so). These were time-consuming but loads of fun - even more fun to wear. I read somewhere that 99% of the shoes worn by Americans are either plain black or brown, so of course that won't do for us artsy types. I wore them to work one day (a rainy one) to see how the paint would hold up, and as you can see, they survived just fine. They were also a huge hit with the usually stodgy crowd of (gag) government workers. I'm taking them to wear at Artfest next week (YES - it's next week!) and will see how they do in the Seattle climate. If that works out I might start taking commissions to paint shoes. I love it when people are willing to lighten up and wear a little art. So it's off to Artfest and I'll post again after that. Ta-ta for now.

Illustration Friday - Heavy

2008-03-14T10:10:00.000-06:00

Poor little Charizma - such a wimp.

Two Little Pieces

2008-03-09T08:55:00.000-06:00

These two pieces will be sent this week for a collaborative project on healing and inspiration. They were interesting to create since they are only 2.75" x 4" in size. I rarely do mosaic collages that small. I'm beginning to feel caught up on my artwork, but is there really ever such a thing??? I guess I should say I don't feel under any more pressure because I've spent so much time in the studio in the past two weeks -- my favorite place to be. Feeling great both inside and out. Next project is to finish painting my shoes. :-)

Little Chairs

2008-02-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

I LOVE CHAIRS. I've been collecting little chairs of all styles for years, from 2" to 10" tall. They're actually hard to find and I've spotted them in the goofiest, most unexpected places. So the hunt is part of their allure. Until recently I had no idea how I wanted to display them and they were packed up in boxes for ages. Then Ray and I were out for dinner at a mom-n-pop restaurant and I noticed that they put their spare chairs on hooks up on the wall. Hmmm... So I put up my little chairs on one wall of the living room and get to look at them every time I pass through the room. You might be wondering, why do I like to collect chairs (as opposed to owls, silverware, dishes, etc.)? To me, chairs represent comfort and home, and pleasant activities such as reading or napping. In a group they're wonderful for blabbing with friends. They're artsy little muses. Chairs are just friendly. So c'mon in and set a spell.

Back Again

2008-02-18T09:30:00.001-07:00

Don't know where I went since February 6, maybe a twister just dropped me back down or something. I'm back to work now and continue to recover nicely from surgery - feeling like my old soul again. For the past several weeks I've been in a frenzy of artwork. I missed it soooooo much! My creativity is just bouncing off the walls these days and I can't stop smiling. Part of that is from getting back into life again, part of it is just feeling happy and blessed. I've posted my latest piece that will be part of an 8 x 8 show late in the summer. Life is good.

Angelina ATCs

2008-02-06T17:49:00.001-07:00

These pics are three ATCs I just finished for an online swap. The challenge was to create ATCs using angelina fibers on either fabric or paper (I chose fabric). For the angelina portions, I placed a deeply-etched rubber stamp on a teflon sheet with the angelina on top of that. Then I laid another teflon sheet on top and gently ironed the image with medium heat. Wow - I got colors I didn't expect at all! It seems I'm more drawn to technique-driven swaps than theme-based trades. Anyhoo, I love it when something cool works... ;-) Wish you could see all the bling they really have; that doesn't show up too well on scans.

A Fab Shrine/Gallery

2008-02-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

FRONT

BACK

My "Fabulous Little Artsy-Fartsy Gallery" shrine is finally finished after almost a year! My artsy friends and I (12 of us) collaborated on a round robin of shrines that each of us started and the others finished, rotating once a month. I'm thrilled with how mine turned out! As you can see from the pics, it's fabulous both on the front and the back - my friend Paula went all-out making fabric panels for the back side so it wouldn't be bare. In its current place of honor in my living room, both sides are visible. I started it by putting together painted black wood panels with a few niches added. The poles holding the panels together are wood with polymer clay hands attached counting 1, 2, 3 and 4. The shrine is my new muse - many thanks to my artsy friends for their creativity!

Zentangle

2008-01-31T10:58:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I heard about a new art form, Zentangles. They're 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" doodlings on quality white paper (I used Fabriano Artistico 140 lb hot press water color paper) using a Samura Micron black pen only. These black and white drawings are an opportunity to create freely with no eraser - just let it flow, concentrate on small areas at a time, and see what happens. They're not really supposed to be a picture of anything in particular, just a free-flowing design. I couldn't believe how relaxing and fun it was! OK, so now I'm hooked. There's a website at http://www.zentangle.com/ that provides a history and details. I'm not sure when it started, but I googled around on the internet and it seems to be gaining momentum as people of all ages try their hand and discover how easy it is, even if they've never "drawn" before. The cool thing is that no two zentangles are alike. One of the Yahoo groups I participate in is doing a swap of Zentangle ATCs. I'm definitely in! The pic at the left is my very first zentangle. Try one and stretch your creative boundaries...

Life's Little Pleasures

2008-01-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

I love life's simple pleasures, don't you? Like closing your eyes and feeling the breeze and the sun's warmth on your face. The heavenly aroma of freshly-baked bread. Or taking a leisurely walk along quiet streets. Or a quiet evening spent near a toasty fire curled up with a great book. How about a little nap on Saturday afternoon? Or maybe listen in the dark to a CD that lifts your spirit. I love having a couple of hours to create a journal page. The page above reflects my fondness for another of life's little pleasures, a good cup of COFFEE (especially decaf mocha) to enjoy while I worked on this journal page.

Illustration Friday - Tales & Legends

2008-01-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

What's a girl gotta do to get some sleep around here???

The Princess and the Pea

Illustration Friday - Plain

2008-01-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

Every girl knows that a plain dress

just needs a few accessories.

The Zen of Solitude

2008-01-16T02:40:00.001-07:00

During the past five weeks of recovery, I've spent 5 out of 7 days each week pretty much left to my own devices. This has been a very good thing for me in ways I didn't anticipate. I've enjoyed long stretches of uninterrupted rest, quiet, and time to think (or not) - my choice. There is a magic healing that takes place when the decision is left entirely up to you whether you want to sleep, read, or do absolutely zip/zilch/nada, as well as decide when you want to do each. The most zen part of it is being removed from anything that smacks of duty or responsibility. All my life I've been an unrelenting participant in activities I felt obliged to do through my roles as wife, mother, teacher, etc. I guess that's called "maturity" - but for the first time ever, this recovery period has allowed me to just watch the world go by as I take care of myself and not worry about anything else. What an amazing relief that is, and how healing that is to the body, mind, and spirit! The time will come soon enough when I return to my usual busy-ness, but I doubt I'll ever want to go at the same pace again. For now I've fully allowed myself (as never before) to just BE.

On the Road Again...

2008-01-09T23:51:00.000-07:00

This is a fabric fatbook page just finished for Artfest 08. Had to do 30 of these 4"x4" stuffed puppies. I'm (kinda) back in the studio this week, at least for little bits of time until I get too stiff and sore in my hip and have to go rest. But it feels awesome to be getting some creativity knocked out once again. One more Artfest group project to go, then I can go to town on some things I really want to do. My inventory of art pieces is a bit depleted since December sales (which is a good thing), so it's going to take some time to finish more - a challenge I happily accept.

The Rapture of the Deep

2008-01-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I ran across the phrase "rapture of the deep." It's what happens to deep sea divers when they've been down too long. They forget which way is back up, then when they do get to the surface they get the "bends" and have trouble readjusting to the oxygen level at the surface. Well, the rapture of the deep is exactly how I'd describe what happens when I'm working on art. I can go into my studio in the morning and get to work, then completely forget to eat lunch and the next thing I know it's become dark outside. The whole world has gone away because I've been so immersed in that creation. And I have such a hard time putting it aside to do anything else. There's nothing else that can cause that rapture so easily - know what I mean, artists?

The Long Way Back

2007-12-26T16:40:00.000-07:00

After two weeks of being in a cocoon, I'm trying my best to re-learn to walk and do all the other things I've always taken for granted being able to do. I've come far but still have a long way to go. Little by little, I push a bit more each day. For an impatient person and die-hard "do-it-myselfer" it's a humbling experience. But I've learned how important it is to let others help me along the way, because I'm progressing faster than I could have by myself. I've felt so much encouragement and love from my family and friends - what would I do without them? I'm hoping that today also marks the start of my creative juices flowing once again. I've missed it so much!

Tagged (and Ready)

2007-12-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

This will be my last chance to blog for a few weeks. Taking the "plunge" tomorrow and I'm more than ready to move forward. I created the pictured journal page to let it all out. So OK, I've also been TAGGED and I'm answering the questions here. 8 passions in my life: My hubby, my 3 sons (that makes 4), art, reading, movies, and road trips to see more of the USA. 8 things to do before I die: Sell my house, retire from my BS job, start a co-op art gallery, RV the entire U.S., see an active volcano, spend a week camping in retreat by myself, get back in shape, move to another part of the country. 8 things I often say: Yikes, Holy Cow, Holy Crap, If it ain't one thing..., Honey (I call everybody that), So..., and two more I can't think of right now. 8 books I've read recently: A Thousand Splendid Suns, Foolsgold, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Culture Warrior, The Grays, 2012, The Quickie, The Truth About Hillary. 8 songs that mean something to me: I Can See Clearly Now, The Thrill is Gone, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Norwegian Wood, Learning to Fly, White Flag, Only Time, Heart of Rock and Roll. 8 qualities I look for in a friend: loyalty, kindness, sense of humor, not giving unsolicited advice or criticism, spontaneity, creativity, optimism, respect for boundaries. 8 people I will pass this on to: Cath, Mary Ann, Jodi, Mark V, Carole, Reid, Ryan, Becky.

The Spirit

2007-12-03T17:03:00.000-07:00

My own thoughts and emotions constantly surprise me. I thought I'd be freaking out by now over my hip replacement surgery coming up on the 11th, but the closer the date gets, the calmer and more accepting I'm becoming. The same thing happened before my knee surgery in July. I hope I'm getting more like my Mom every day - she's taught me strength that I rarely give myself credit for. I called her on Sunday for her birthday, and we had the nicest talk. Her doctor was amazed last week by her energy for a woman of 86 years. I'd love to tell her doctor that it comes not from strength of the body, but strength of the spirit.

Thankful

2007-11-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in about 10 days due to lack of motivation, but I would be remiss if I didn't add something today about what I'm thankful for. Where do I start? I'm blessed with so many things, including my family, a comfortable life, and a love of art. But this year Thanksgiving is even more meaningful for me because of an awesome gift from true friends: the donation of their life-giving blood for me so that I can have hip replacement surgery in two weeks. I'm humbled by the fact that just asking a few resulted in so many willing to help. I'm moved beyond words! So I did this journal page to show what this second chance means to me. My friends have renewed my faith in humanity. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Illustration Friday - Scale

2007-11-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

Playing at Borders

2007-11-09T13:13:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite things is to go to Borders (or Barnsie), order a decaf mocha, and just sit and doodle. I had my full journal kit with me and people must have thought I was nuts -- sip a little, snip a little, glue a little, color a little. When I'm journaling I forget all about my surroundings and mentally (happily) wander off into doodle-land. Absolutely no concept of the time makes for pure bliss and relaxation. When I'm at home I have too many interruptions (put another load into the washer, answer the phone, fiddle with e-mails, yuck). Now it's off to work on a fun art piece.

A Journal Page

2007-10-31T07:17:00.000-06:00

Why can't I hold on to Autumn forever? This is a journal page just completed using real leaves from the very red tree pictured in my blog from 10/25. Also used were some papers from Ro in the Land Down Under (my thanks). Today is Halloween - seems like after this day the fall colors start to wind down. Thanksgiving is only three weeks away. So much to do before the holidays, yet time just speeds up. The ultimate paradox.

Illustration Friday - Trick or Treat

2007-10-26T12:28:00.000-06:00

All the little skeletons were charged up and ready to go dancing on Halloween night.

Happy Halloween to all!

Autumn Color Wheel

2007-10-25T18:02:00.000-06:00

This tree stands right outside my door at work. I see it up close every time I enter or exit the building. Ma Nature really knows what she's doing - the colors in this tree are perfect complimentaries (red and green), just like on the color wheel. And against the deep blue NM sky, WOW! The tree's brilliance really is this beautiful - no doctoring of the photo. When its leaves fall soon, I'll dearly miss this little beauty until it blooms again in the spring. Ahhhhhh.....

Illustration Friday - Grow

2007-10-21T09:44:00.001-06:00

Illustration Friday - Extremes

2007-10-12T20:51:00.000-06:00

Every day is a challenge for Charizma. She has a tendency to go from one extreme to the other.

Finis

2007-10-12T10:38:00.000-06:00

My new piece is finally finished. I'm posting here a picture of the whole thing, also a snap of the bottom danglies because they tell a little story. I love to make up little stories with as few words as possible - it's a real challenge and forces me to be concise. The danglies are made of thin wood chips, painted, with words cut from a VERY old children's book. They were pasted onto the chips with soft gel medium and antiqued with walnut ink. For some time I didn't get that "rush" of feeling of accomplishment after a piece is done, but the feeling is back with this one and I'm enjoying it. Although our little art collective has a number of events coming up, I'm not feeling pressured to create, just enjoying doing the work. Life is good.

A Piece of a Piece

2007-10-09T17:44:00.001-06:00

This is a section of a piece I just finished called "Isn't She Lovely." (I see a girlish pattern here.) But I'm enjoying more feminine things myself, so it's just a reflection of my "inner goddess", I guess. The inspiration for the whole piece was the little unfinished wooden window frame (3"x5"), and everything else flowed from there after I heard the Stevie Wonder song by the same name on the radio. Isn't inspiration from little things just wonderful? Personally, I get it from music, colors, shapes, patterns, and little found objects. In other words -- easy to find if I'm open to them!

I Envy Him!

2007-10-04T20:22:00.000-06:00

As I drive to and from my office WAY OUT on Kirtland AFB -- all the way up against the Manzano Mountains -- I see hundreds of prairie dogs that pretty much run the open spaces out there. In the spring they're tiny and skinny, then by autumn they're all fattened up and ready for the cooler weather to tell them it's time to go into hybernation. Boy do I envy them! When the weather gets cool at night and early in the morning (as in October in NM), I find myself wanting to pig out and go to sleep until spring. My mind slows down, I stay indoors a lot more, and just sort of drift until spring rolls around again. The prairie dogs have the right idea, lucky varmints.

A Purse - Me???

2007-10-01T17:54:00.000-06:00

I surprised myself and completed something unusually girlie -- a box purse. Haven't ever made a purse before, so this was uncharted territory. I'm one of those utilitarian women who just needs something to throw my stuff into without another thought. But I do know that other women sometimes enjoy having a handbag to go with every outfit. (Nope, don't care about that either.) I do love to look at handbags if they're art pieces, so maybe I'll make a couple more since Rio Grande Artisans (RGA) will be having some shows this fall. It was more fun than I thought it would be!

A Quiet Visit

2007-09-22T20:54:00.001-06:00

Yesterday Ray and I went for a short drive to Santa Fe. Ray wanted to visit the Santa Fe National Cemetery and find the gravesite of Karl Grenzebach, an old family friend of his from Illinois. The story of Karl and his father was a sad one - they had a permanent parting of the ways when Karl ran away from home in 1964 at the age of 17. Father and son had a serious disagreement about Karl taking over the family farm - he simply didn't want to. From that day on, his parents never knew where he was or what had happened to him until they received a letter from the U.S. Govt saying that Karl (a Vietnam veteran who had become a USMC sergeant) had passed away in New Mexico and was laid to rest in Santa Fe. Ray and I took some pictures of the gravesite and surrounding area, did some headstone rubbings, and mailed them with a letter to Karl's parents in Illinois. I was so moved by the juxtaposition of all those headstones (so pristine white, neatly laid out and orderly) against the gorgeous New Mexico azure sky. So many lives lost, now surrounded by silence and peace. We don't know if Karl's parents will ever be able to visit their son's final resting place, but we tried in some way to show them what a beautiful and peaceful place it is. I hope they will somehow know their son is all right now.

About Time

2007-09-20T19:51:00.000-06:00

We've always heard that "time flies." But if it does fly, where does it go (e.g., does it go *POOF* in little bursts but we just can't hear it)? We use so many expressions with the word "time" -- time out, time off, bedtime, out of time, on time, time zones, time-savers, etc. People are always obsessed with the time, as in "What time is it?" or "I haven't got time." Do we control time, or does time control us? You can spend time, but you're not supposed to waste time. Why not, if the time is yours to spend? I don't get it -- anytime.

More Like It

2007-09-15T21:04:00.000-06:00

Whew - what a rotten day I had when I posted my last blog. Glad those don't happen every day. Not dwelling on hurts any more, so I'm posting another page of my art journal that's now finished. I'm a bit stuck as to how to begin another one... I keep looking for that spectacular jump start that says OK, I'm on a roll again, but it's just not there so I decided to put that aside and start something else. I'm beginning work on an altered purse (or is it an altered box?) made of wood and will just set materials out on my work table (paints, papers, embellishments, etc.) and see what starts to happen. I've finally learned that planning too much just gets me in trouble.

Three Words

2007-09-13T16:59:00.001-06:00

So I was watching the program i-Caught on ABC the other night, and their regular segment called "3 words" at the end of the show really got me thinking. A ton of three-word phrases came to mind, but unfortunately some of them were negative. Oh well, it is what it is. I was working on my art journal and decided to create a page, playing 3 words. Here they are. I must have had a bad day at work or something...

Another Week?

2007-09-08T07:55:00.000-06:00

Where does a week go? I'd hoped to post blogs several times a week, but before I know it another week has flown by. Finally, a couple of new little babies finished that I can put into the State Fair booth. I'd like to have more done in time, but refuse to do any rush work. My friend from work has started on my long-desired website and I'm so excited! It will be a blast to update it whenever I want and have a look for it that's all mine. I think it's a good omen that my favorite piece -- the one that my website and business card designs are based on -- sold at a gallery show recently. And now off to the monthly ATC trade and polymer clay class. I love nice, long artsy days...

Illustration Friday: Alphabets

2007-09-02T18:01:00.000-06:00

I enjoyed this challenge! Ever since I was a kid I've had fun doodling my own made-up alphabets. I love twisty vines that wrap themselves around everything.

Illustration Friday: Visitors

2007-08-26T17:05:00.000-06:00

I've always thought one of the best places to feel really alive is in the midst of a forest. Ever since I was a child, going to the woods has brought me peace, serenity, and a sense that I'm never alone there. I always feel the benevolent presence of spirits that are happy to see me - their voices are carried on the cool, earthy, fragrant breeze coming from high in the treetops. My IF "Visitors" are from my mixed media sculpture entitled Forest Spirits. Are they the visitors, or am I?