JOY

Sharing home-made ornaments is something I love to do.

 

                                                             Joyeux Noel
                                                               Namaste-

JOY-"Love the one you're with."

I am lucky to have a great big loving family.  Being an only child I INTENDED to have a big family!!  There are some I can't be with in person this season so I will try to implement the words of this old rock song; I will love the ones I'm with!!!

 

Have a happy, ya'll,

Namaste-

IN GOOD TIME

"The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be."
Spenser=WONDERLAND/Ace Atkins

I do miss Robert B. Parker, who will always be Spenser to me.  As far as I know I have read every one of his books.  He passed on his legacy to Ace Atkins who comes close enough to replacing Robert as anyone can I suppose.

But I still miss you Parker. And Jeremy Brett, my favorite Sherlock. And the actor who plays Morse in the old episodes, which we are re-watching now.  The new Endeavor is not bad though!

To my heroes, I ask you to shine your light on my writing so that maybe, just  maybe I will get published as well, before I come to meet you up there-

Namaste.

IN GOOD TIMES

I can remember wanting to make a life sized Santa Claus for some time now.  I have gathered and dreamed and not gotten around to it. (nice for procrastinated)

This year I have opened boxes of Christmas goodies not seen in some time.  Some were from Christmases we spent in Colorado and others had Christmas stockings I made in the seventies.  Lot's of calicoes and checks.  Paring down has been fun.  My Boo has welcomed some things and the rest are destined for Good Willies. 

As I found makings for a large doll, it came to me that I should make Mother Christmas.  I couldn't call her Mrs. Santa. After all, we southern girls stopped being "Mrs." ourselves some decades ago when we requested The Daily Advertiser to publish our Christian names and our Surnames but not our husbands first names.  Because of our active Homemakers club we were often in the paper and they graciously agreed.  I add this side note because you, my children were too small to notice a difference and probably take it for granted today.  We were cutting-edge-women back then!

Mother Christmas has come alive for me this year.

Her bodice is a lovely printed velvet I had intended to wear myself.  Her skirt is lace with an overskirt of black and white check.  Underneath is a hooped skirt probably once worn by a fancy Southern bell!

Her face is a re-fashioned Mardi Gras mask on piece of foundry mold.  Eventually I might  make her a "real" head but for now I am quite happy with the way she looks.

I hope you will also make your Christmas merry!
Namaste-

IN GOOD TIME-Above the clouds

Recently I have watched two episodes on OWN TV in which Oprah interviews author Mark Nepo.  I was totally entranced with his outlook on healing and life in general.

This past year I was given one of his books by a dear Colorado friend, entitled The Book of Awakening. I have since looked forward each morning to a bit of his seemingly unconventional wisdom.  His perception of things has helped me open my eyes to new possibilities.

In the reading for December 5th, he mentions  a hike in which he rose above the clouds,and into a whole new perspective.  It resulted in a magical memory for me.

One year, while working at Rocky Mountain National Park, I was able to ride along with Law  Enforcement ranger Lisa Hendy. It was a cold dreary day and I was glad to be enclosed in the warmth of her patrol vehicle. 

As she drove up Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the United States, we were surrounded by fog.  Suddenly we rose above the thick white denseness and were above the clouds.  She parked and we got out and walked in sunlight!  The visitors around us were as mesmerized as we were!

It was like a different world, clean and fresh and new.

Somewhere I have photos of  us surrounded by clouds, and although I would love to see them again, I suspect I would prefer the crystalline images of my memory.

IN GOOD TIME-

This morning, I'm feeling like my kiddoes (which of course, for future reference means my children, their children and their children!)  I can't wait for Christmas!!

 A good friend of mine said she was going to begin decorating for Christmas on Thanksgiving.  She puts up all sizes of trees and decorates them with lots of antique ornaments, and of course hundreds of lights, It makes her house magical!  The closest I was willing to go was to begin a Christmas puzzle.

I am, however, busy "making Christmas" in my studio.  I was so absorbed in my work I did not know my husband took this picture.

I believe that means I am happy and content, and enjoying Christmas in my own way.  It is absolutely a lovely meditation when I am doing my art, and for that I am so thankful.

I do hope you are joyfully "making Christmas" in your own way, as well!

Namaste-

TAKE GOOD CARE=looking campy!

It started with a quote something like, "If women do it, God loves it."  In French.  Can anybody help me here?

Two creative women began to clean their studios. They invited a few more.  Voila'

 

 

The day started out with five artists spreading wares in the soon to be stormy weather.  Damp and dreary and cold.  Then the customers came, the singing began and Lori brought out the hats.

 

 

'Nuf said!

Namaste'

TAKE GOOD CARE=GOLDEN NET

(When I have to sign in again to write a new post, I know it's been too long.)

I've been thinking what I want for Thanksgiving.  And what I want to give.  Several years ago I missed a great time of thanks-giving at my son's home, after I had gone home, thinking my ailing husband might need me.  I have had many regrets about that one.

In hindsight it seems that ALL my kiddoes needed to be together, just that generation, perhaps.  Many soulful and weepy thanks were shared.  Much gratitude and  many memories happened.

What I really want this day, this month this year, is to truly be heard.  I want for all the ones I love to really know me, know who I am, down deep under the fluff and bother of gypsy skirts and baubles. 

I want to ask and be asked what is most important to me and to you.  And I want to ask it of myself.

We are truly a GOLDEN NET for each other.  A beautiful receptacle for wants and wishes, for fears and trepidations.  As family, we support each other no matter what.  When one of us is in the NET all the rest of us hold our hands closer, to cherish and protect the one within.

Perhaps the world is learning this.  Perhaps from us.  One person, one company, one country at a time.  One day at a time.

Namaste.

ART & LIFE

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious."

Albert Einstein

 

We just discovered these fairy-like flowers in our front yard.  I don't know where they came from but suspect from a long ago purchase at our local master gardeners.  They are delightfully like tiny orchids, wrong shape of course.  How intrepid of them to be so bold in mid November!

Mother Nature also added her own touch to the  small incaustic pages I put outside to spray fixative on, for my little Christmas books. I always seem to be outdone by her tender hand.  A work in progress, I may have to consider incorporating leaves, eh? 

I offer you this season's greetings.

Namaste.

TAKE GOOD CARE

"It's essential that we understand that taking care of the planet will be done as we take care of ourselves.  You know that you can't really make much of a difference in things until you change yourself."
Alice Walker

Namaste'

TAKE GOOD CARE

I had a wonderfully quiet beginning of my seventy first year here on earth.  Just the thought of that is a miracle.

                                         Breakfast in bed just like my Momma used to do-

Visits from twins-

 

                                                                    Steak for lunch-

 

                                                        Making art in a quiet studio-

 

I am absolutely grateful for my life.

Namaste.

TAKE GOOD CARE

"That the birds of worry and care fly above your head, this you cannot change.  But that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent." Chinese proverb-

After weeks of computer tampering and pampering, I am finally back on line.

As I read the above quote in one of my daily 12 step books, Courage to Change, I was absolutely taken aback.  The image of birds nesting in my hair is not a pleasant one, to say the least.  I have however allowed similar nests, by my insecurities, angers and shame, affect my daily thought processes and rob me of energy, creative and otherwise.

My 12 step program again reminds me that I am not alone.  "I can grab hold of my Higher Power's hand, face my fears," (and tears) "and move through them." 

Namaste.

TAKE GOOD CARE

Since  my last show, at Louisiana Crafts Guild in Lafayette Louisiana, I have experienced a dearth of creativity.  If you are not an artist (although I believe everyone is!) it's called depression.

In the novel I am reading at present I read the word chintzy, a word I heard from my childhood and had completely forgotten about.  Although my Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, copyright 1969, didn't have it, the Webster's New World Dictionary of the English Language (a bit contradictory there?) lists its meaning as "cheap, stingy, petty."

This week I have experienced a bit of new energy, a rebirth if you will. 

I'd like to share with you a postcard my Wen gave me:

I hope these words help me to remember my priorities, and not be chintzy with myself.
I deserve.
We deserve.
Namaste.

TAKE GOOD CARE

This morning I walked in the kitchen and saw my husband drinking coffee, working on his laptop and standing on one foot.  His daily isometrics often inspire me as well.

 

I took his picture and ask him to take mine.  He declined to have his "on  the internet" but I felt obliged to share my stretches and arm exercises "just because."  My blog is first and foremost to let you, my peeps, share my day.  It makes me feel closer to you and that feels go-o-o-d!

 

I love you BIG, BIG-

Namaste.

HOME COOKING

We are having an eggplant cook-off at our house.  We chopped and sauteed this HUGE eggplant and it resulted in one cup that we added to rice dressing.  Yumm!

 

In our other kitchen our daughter boiled her eggplant and added it to sauteed onions and shrimp.  Equally Yummy!

 

I'm up for another contest any time they wish.

Ya'll come.

 

Namaste.

we are having an

SIGNS FROM THE ROAD

                   
                                                                       Namaste.

FLYING WISHES

                                                                  Sister wishes!!
                                                                      Namaste.

SIGNS FROM THE ROAD

                                                                          Namaste.

SIGNS FROM THE ROAD

                                                                          Namaste.

SIGNS FROM THE ROAD

                                                                             Namaste.

SIGNS FROM THE ROAD

         
                                                                     Namaste.

SIGNS FROM THE ROAD

                                                                     Namaste.

ROOTS

Saturday night I felt like a gypsy in all her glory, surrounded by friends, family and fellow artists.  And of course my art.   Seeing it all together was a sweet surprise for me.

 

Today I opened an old journal and found:

"This dream is about appreciating my roots ad letting them embrace me.  Fear of the unknown is normal and human.  I must understand and accept the fear and still strive and accept--beauty and love and joy and playfulness.
              Thank You."

I find these words glorious-ly synchronistic for this particular body of work.  The series title is ROOTS.  It includes, from left to right:
--The Folly
--Jupiter Rising
--The Alpha and the Omega IV
--Life Muse III
--3 wall hung pieces, I forget their names, but having to do with Just Being.
--Blue Earth
--Muse II
--and on the far right, half hidden, Morning Music, which has the word play under a prism.

 

Thank you for visiting my virtual art opening at San Souci, The Louisiana Crafts Guild.

Namaste. 

STUDIO STASH-

I have just completed my first FULL year as an artist.  True I have been making art for a long time but not all day, everyday, if I wished to.

Even when I was back in school all of the eighties, I was working and raising beautiful children.  I would envy my fellow artists for their ability to "be there" full time.  I honestly have no regrets.  I had magical times with my kiddoes singing together on the way to school, chaperoning band trips, softball games.  Just singing and dancing.

All these years, however, my studio served as a "stash."

Stash:



Stash:

Stash:

Stash

 

 

Former stash:

Aha! Things are looking go-o-od!

Namaste.

OUTER CHILDREN-as opposed to inner

I absolutely love, love, love when I learn something from my children!

Our long weekend in Galveston began each morning with a sit on the deck.  Always does.  Silence. 
Birds. Newspaper reading.  Whatever.

Today I realized that I had not been outside all week.  Was my relatively new deck just to look at from indoors? Humph!

I took my book, my journal and my chocolate outside and sat.  I travelled my long and winding road to serenity, and enjoyed the morning.

Thank you again my beach babies!
Namaste.

GOING WITHIN (AGAIN!)

"Our very life depends on everything's
Recurring till we answer from within."

Robert Frost-Courage to Change, One Day at a Time in Al-Anon II

For me this mornings quote repeats what I've learned from time to time in my life and promptly forgotten.  I can work out what-ever is bothering me with my present partner...., or try again and again with another somebody. Humph!

My summer vacation began this past weekend!  A weekend at the beach with my lovely, loved ones.
Yet, I find, as mother, I am still not "allowed" to say certain things to my children/family.  Either they don't even hear me (See previous blog on being transparent) or it sometimes hurts too much to hear what I say.

I turned again to my morning pages and GOD=Good Orderly Direction, to get out any of my own hurts or frustrations. 

The pleasant result was I could love unconditionally, and enjoy a fun, fun time.

 

Some of us didn't even let rain, rain on our barbeque!

 

 

                                                                     Namaste.

ART HEALS

I suppose I have always been a scavenger, picking up lost rocks, shells and twigs. My quest for found (and foundry) wood truly began when I was an artist in residence at River Oaks Art Square in Alexandria Louisiana, in about 1995.  A local business man said he had a large pile of wood in a covered shed that He wanted to dispose of.  He asked if we artists would like some.

Would we?  We shared many trips to this massive mound of wood and each time we went, others had uncovered more areas, and so more and more enticing pieces became available.  Layers of old foundry molds from which iron was cast for farm implements, and other things, possible fifty to a hundred years ago.  I have just begun using those wonderful pieces of inspiration!

Pieces like these are finding their way into larger pieces of art.

I also love to scrounge through my wood-worker husband's scrap pile. He works mostly in  cypress that has languished under water in the nearby Atchafalaya Basin for many years.  Who wouldn't love "scraps" like these?

Some of these pieces are being incorporated into a body of work I am presenting in August at the Louisiana Crafts Guild in downtown Lafayette Louisiana.

I hope to show you some finished pieces soon.
Namaste.

MIRACLES

"Let the paint leap out of it's container, onto your brush...Paint yourself out of all your corners." SARK, Living Juicy-

I would say this is definitely OUR  Boo painting herself out of a corner! Wouldn't you?

So many folks are intimidated by painting and it is very frustrating to a teacher like me.  Reading this quote from SARK gave me an idea:

Take a blank piece of paper, or canvas and dip your brush, any brush, even you kitchen basting brush if that is all you can find, into your favorite color paint.  Markers or colored pencils will also work great.  (please don't use the brush in the kitchen again)

Now draw or paint a big arch, then within the arch paint a sun or a moon at the top and then steps rising up to meet it.  Paint or color the steps all different colors if you like!  PLAY.

Then back off and look at your artwork.  I'll bet your heart will rise up to meet it.

Namaste.