Well i am finally getting some things done. The house is s-l-o-w-l-y getting straightened up, lots of junk has gone away, and the best news yet, I am finally working regularly on my art.

It's a New Year - and New Projects!

I've signed up for more classes - its' a new year and I need new motivation. The past several months were taken up with family issues, my Dad had a stroke and, while he is recovering beautifully, it was still a stressful time for my Mom and my siblings and myself. For the moment anyway, that situation is moving along nicely and I can spend more time pursuing my other passions ....

Right now that means Bookbinding and Mosaica, and oh yeah, I've also signed up for another conversational Spanish class. I realize that I'm not making much progress in the Spanish language, but I insist on continuing to try. One of these days, some of it is bound to stick!!

Last week I started a class in Mosaic Mandalas, taught by my friend and mosaic mentor, Dianne Sonnenberg. It's a class heavily weighted in the designing and creating of mandalas, and the universal aspects of "sacred geometry". It's fascinating and I'm anxious to see what kind of design I create. More to come on that.

In the meantime, I spent a weekend on a 2-day bookbinding class. The book was similar to others that I've made, but the new enticement for this class was a matching slipcase for the book. It was a good class (as usual) and I'm very happy with my resulting book & case. I can see my skills improving since my first few books, and I'm realizing that patience and an even temperament are tools that are just as important as the supplies and hardware in the final result!!

Too Much Travel - I would not have thought it was possible . . .

... but it definitely is. Starting in August, I had scheduled 7 trips between August and November. It wasn't intentional, but it just happened. A few of them were more-or-less out of my control, but the others just seredipitously came together seemingly out of the blue. And my punishment for complaining about too much traveling is that now my husband is changing jobs, which entails some serious work-at-home, which means I really have to finally get around to cleaning out that junk room (also known as the home office!)

Bookbinding

Ive been improving my bookbinding skills with a class last month, this time a book I truly love- its large enough to use as sketchbook ,journal,anything--and despite being hardbound,its flexible enough to actually tolerate some hard use.

Ive been alternating between mosaics and bookbinding for a couple of years now, unable or unwilling to choose between them. No, its not necessary to choose, but the hours are limited and I've not made the best use of my time lately. Here I am, being a perfect example of that (lazy,unmotivated,ambivalent?) person I've been railing about. I don't actually think I'm lazy, but I do seem to be paralyzed. What is that all about anyway?

May , it's really nearly summer....

It's been months that I've been working with my mosaic teacher - she had accepted a huge commission job, which meant she needed a bit of help, and I was trying to learn a new technique - which meant that I needed some mindless practice to do , over and over and over again until I got it right!

The wonderful (and huge) project finished up a week ago, and was immediately installed on the side of a horse barn. And then, what a great surprise, I was invited to the party to celebrate the 6-or-so assorted artists who had made commissioned projects for the same local family. So, we put on our required Hawaiian shirts and headed out to the magnificent ranch - with its' magnificent artwork, scattered around the lawns, the outbuildings and the house as well. The host and hostess couldn't have been nicer or more generous - and a great time was had by all.

Now, I'm trying to get all my neglected chores out of the way, because I actually want to WORK on some of my OWN mosaics! I have ideas, just need the time - and also the fortitude to overcome that self-criticism which causes mostly paralysis - but that's fairly tragic.

So many projects, So little time . . .

Spring is just around the corner ... In fact, my bluebonnets are just beginning to bloom in my yard...there are only 4-5 blooms so far, and it will be another week or so before they are really blanketing the front yard, but they are well on their way.

I am trying to slow down a little bit from the overwhelmingly busy calendar I've been keeping. I was already busy in the beginning of February, but then I attended the annual conference of the American Society of Mosaic Artists... it was quite an inteesting and enlightening week of presentations and activities - including a 3-day workshop with British Mosaicist Martin Cheek... boy, did I learn and learn and learn. Now if only I could find the time to actually WORK on my works in progress.

The conference and the class and the volunteer mosaic work actually did take up a little over a week, and almost immediately afterward, I had that one-on-one class with my sister, who wanted to learn the basics of handmade books. That went well, by the way, and now I'm finishing up a project that I promised my eldest grandchild about 6 months ago!

It's an easy enough project, painting an old-fashioned school child's desk... primary colors, mostly blue, with a red seat and yellow back. Ought to be colorful enough for a happy 4 year old. It has to be done by this Friday, but the blue and red areas are already done. Hopefully I'll get it done, and then spend half the weekend traveling, so maybe "next week" I can work on my mosaic. It's always tomorrow, or next week or next month. Just keep pushing things out farther and farther . . .

. . . is this any way to make Art?

Reading, Bookbinding, Mosaics . . . and More!

January has gotten ridiculously busy... I'm in the middle of a Bookbinding project, and have decided to teach my sister to make a book...so we will have a "private class" in about a month, but I need to take the responsibility and be sure that I have all the details needed, as well as all the supplies, so I'm working on that. In addition, the Society of American Mosaic Artists are having their Annual National Conference in Austin this February, and, while I'm still a novice mosaicist, I want to attend the conference to get inspiration and I'm sure quite a bit of knowledge. I'll be taking an advanced class, so I'm also interested in getting some work done to be sure I'm actually ready for an advanced class. Those items are high on my list, while my job as a property manager for our beach condo is ramping up again as people begin to think about their Spring and Summer vacations. I'm reading a captivating book "The Daily Coyote" which is difficult due to all those busy items listed above.

And, I've been thinking alot about Mail. Yes, yes I know that it's probably a foregone conclusion that we'll be losing Snail Mail completely one of these days. Maybe there are still several years left, but as electronic forms of communicaion (and primarily ways of billing and paying bills) proliferate, the need for snail mail will drop consistently and significantly until the cost of a nicely written letter will become prohibitive. And - my interest in all of this? MAIL ART! I love it and intend to singlehandedly keep it going, no matter the cost. But even as I say it, when it costs $10 to mail it, I may think differently. Doesn't everyone love the fact of walking to your mailbox and taking out a handwritten letter from a friend? It's one of the real joys... especially for me. I wonder what the future of handmade Mail Art will be. I hope that I'm surprised and some new opportunity is just over the horizon that will enable us to keep our mail delivery... if even on a much less frequent basis. We'll have to wait and see, but in the meantime, I'm working hard to take advantage as long as I can!!

January is for new Beginnings

Okay, I'm back to eating salads - at least much of the time, if not all. And my resolutions include getting rid of my clutter so that I can actually spend my time doing what I REALLY want to do - making new pieces of art! Tomorrow is a planned clean out of my studio - something I've needed for a long time. I'm counting on tons of resolve - I really need it!!

New Years Day 2011

A ridiculously busy Fall... after planning an overly large Thanksgiving, I veritably went skidding into December, with a fantastic 2-day workshop in bookbinding, taught by the lovely and fascinating Book Babes, Leslie and Maggie. I loved the class, despite the fact that I was suffering from a head cold. I made the most advanced book I've attempted so far. And, quickly after that, I had to try to manage all the details of Christmas. I basically had a bit of a rebellion this time, I was already exhausted, before I even got started.

On Dec 20, T. and I left town for 10 days at the beach. Even that wasn't the relaxing holiday I had promised my self. We found several items that needed repair and/or replacement... BUT we walked on the beach EVERY morning (and one morning took the car onto a north beach, where we immediately got stuck in the sand - oops! Forty dollars got us pulled out, and we were no worse for the ordeal!! We ate seafood the entire time and of course all the holiday treats --- it's going to take a while to get back into a more normal diet. Oh yes, January will be a struggle!!

Cool! Good news!

So, I got the email that I was accepted into the exhibit "Broadsides" (see Oct 5) at Atelier6000 Gallery (Bend, Oregon) Soon, I think they'll post all the exhibit pieces on their website.

That's a nice thing, after spending all day working like dogs, emptying and cleaning out our fish pond....which was full of muddy sludge. We are now exhausted and making homemade pesto, and I'm basking in the delight of being part of a new book arts exhibit.

The Beach is Perfect! A random Friday in October...

We had a planned trip to south Texas to celebrate my Mom's 85th birthday, but a couple of chores convinced us to take an extra day and spend a day on the beach at South Padre Island. What a PERFECT time to visit! The weather was warm and sunny, the water was cool, the crowds were gone, it was just a wonderful day and a half. Thank goodness we decided to go - it's the most relaxing place to be!

Oh yes, and the birthday celebration was nice, it was a good excuse for the entire family to get together. We don't do that often enough.

Just sent my submission for the "Broadsides" exhibition

Well, I finally got it finished, and it's in the mail. No, not a check, but my submitted entry for a juried show entitled "Broadsides". Initially I had to look it up, just to determine what qualifies as a "Broadside". As best I can tell,it's more or less a poster,usually fairly small, typically printed on a letterpress.... more common in past times ... The prospectus states that

"“Broadsides,” a juried exhibition of text and image, mixed media and two-dimensional works open to artists of all ages. Broadsides: text and image works printed by hand or letterpress or with calligraphy technique."

So, using a quote by Michael Pollan (author of: 'In Defense of Food', 'The Omnivore's Dilemma', 'The Botany of Desire' and 'Food Rules') I created a simple broadside, and earlier today I sent it off to (hopefully) become a part of the exhibit. Here's a look at my piece.

Dr. John M. Kennedy – 15 Minute Heart Cure Episode #19

Dr. John M. Kennedy – 15 Minute Heart Cure Episode #19

Rainy Days at the Beach

We are spending a few days at the beach in September. It's necessary, since we are here for the annual Homeowners Meeting, but we're also here to have the last "beach time" of this summer season - the one that's currently ending with multiple days of rain. Although it would be easy to think that the rain is spoiling our trip, surprisingly the rain has not been a problem at all. These days of constant but light rain, more than a sprinkle, with occasional downpours, have created the kind of days that you can sit on a balcony with a good book, interspersed with lots and lots of naps. I had totally forgotten how relaxing it is to just spend the entire day drinking pots of coffee, reading and sleeping the day away.

I would not have chosen this weather, but I am not sorry at all that it has worked out this way. Maybe that's the real definition of a serendipity.

Change

If you want to change your life, you actually have to CHANGE something. Seems pretty darn obvious, but it took me by surprise when I was reading a blog this morning. Guess that's my sign: get off the train going nowhere, and figure out what small change I can make TODAY.

By the way, this is actually old news, I can remember my therapist (years ago) reminding me, "crazy is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different outcome".

Okay - I guess I'm off to figure out how to embrace change . . .

Wow. This summer has flown past

I never even wrote anything about my vacation. It was nice, but was NOT the quiet, contemplative, sitting-on-the-balcony-reading type of vacation that I could see in my mind's eye. And, as soon as I got back home, we got busy with yet more "busy" ness. I REALLY need to figure out how to get out of this rut.

Back from Alaska

Back home from our vacation and I'm busier than ever.

Strange Days

Things have been really strange around here. A couple of weeks ago I was moving some boxes of art supplies when I tripped, lost my balance and fell down - - - hard. I fell onto an old, dirty metal box. It wasn't rusty, but still, it was covered in old dirt and dust. I didn't even realize at first how badly I was hurt... it was a few hours later that the swelling really got going, and later still that I noticed the blood. There wasn't much blood, at least not on the outside. The bruising was horrendous, and even now, two and a half weeks later, its' still huge and purple. My doctor called it a hematoma. Whatever, it hurt like hell and it's huge. HUGE. Covers nearly all my thigh and upper leg. But, all in all, I'm healing and I didn't die, so life goes on.

Then, of course we're trying to get ready for a nice vacation - to Alaska. With 3 other couples, Boto and I are taking our first cruise, the "Glacier" cruise, the inside passage from Anchorage to Vancouver. We both think it will be great fun. We will spend the first two days on a train trip to Denali National Park, then return to Anchorage to begin the cruise. I just finished up my handmade Travel Journal, and exciting roll-up fabric covered journal - I really want to start writing in it today, but I really have to wait for the "journey"!

For our anniversary last month, Boto got me an iPod Touch -which is becoming the most fun for me. I'm still learning how to use it, and only have a couple of apps downloaded, but it looks like that will change soon, now that it's getting more familiar to me.

Then today, I got a phone call from a close friend who apparently was overdoing some serious housecleaning and blew out a knee. She tried calling me to take her to the hospital, but I wasn't at home, so she had to catch a ride with the ambulance. I still don't know the diagnosis or the resulting treatment (other than the pain pills, she definitely got some heavy duty pain pills).... so I'm waiting to hear how she'll recover and recuperate.

I have a fool's errand upcoming this weekend, I have to travel to our beach condo.... I wish I hadn't set things up this way, but I didn't think about what I was doing - I have renters about to check out and I have a few things that need to be done before the next renters check in, and this is the only time I can get to the condo to take care of those details. So, only a week before we leave on vacation, I have to spend this upcoming weekend making a 14-hour drive to spend 2 hours on a few small chores. I'm hoping to get enough done here at home before I have to leave.

Wow, it sure seems lately like it's "all work and no play". We are planning a vacation in about a month, and I really am looking forward to the "vacate" part. I want to sit in a chair with a book (and maybe a cappuccino) and just veg out.

Seriously. work is way overrated.

Okay, it's the New Year

In fact, we are a week into the new year, and I haven't even made any resolutions, much less kept them! I do, however, have some plans for art. I am in the middle of making a mosaic "orb", a sphere that was perhaps intended to be a christmas decoration, that is, in the class I took - but for me it's an opportunity to begin to use my desire to bring the feel of the beach into my objects. . . so I made this glass and tile mosaic, and then added seashells for a touch of the ocean. It's not finished, I started it in a class and went to all the classes, but held off on the very last part as I got overly busy with Holiday activities and traveling. But I'll be at home at last in a few days and finishing up the grouting of the mosaic is high on my list.

Oh, and also pretty high on my list is getting our passports renewed, in advance of a trip in May. We're taking a cruise along the Alaskan coastline - Glaciers and all. But I think that everything about Passports take longer than they used to, so I want to get that started ASAP....

My life in a nutshell- fighting my desire to get back into the studio versus spending time traveling and seeing the world with new eyes, and a more open-minded viewpoint. It's all the same really, isn't it? Growing up, learning new things, learning how very little we really know, and how much we can learn from other cultures.... and figuring out how to express all this visually.

All the best for this new year to all who are reading this !!