Many Blessings

May you and yours be richly blessed this holy day and always. Happy Birthday Jesus!

Frantic

Today was enough to make the greatest lover of Christmas reconsider. Why is it that when some people shop, normal ordinary people, they turn into the worst discourteous rude and obnoxious folk ever? If I don't shop again for a year, that's okay with me. No, wait, that means I would be out again before Christmas. I don't care what happens, no matter the disaster in handmaking, no matter that the book didn't come, no matter, no matter, I am NOT shopping for gifts in December again. There, I have had my rant. I feel better now.

So the rest of Christmas decorations got up okay, even though last night was spent in an ER with a truly colorful bladder infection. Yuch. All better today, thank goodness. I can't wait until the cats get a little saner, and we can go to a full size real tree again. They are going to get saner, right? I mean they are only three...

Yesterday someone down the street tossed out a perfectly good side table, just a small one, perfect for behind the loveseat. I actually had to flag down the trash truck and get them to unload it again! I am afraid my son was a bit embarrased about the whole thing. He with a cast on his thumb, and me with my bad foot must have been a sight. It is now the cleanest table in the town! On it are my two big indoor plants and the little Christmas tree. Perfect!

I have to work Sunday and Monday, but there's still stuff to be made, so it's down to the studio (such as it is) to do elfly duty...

Finally

Yippee! I finally got the new camera to disgorge its pictures! So without further ado, here is my creche a (and a few little vinettes). Tomorrow, the Singing Animals!

Some frustration

Well, I can't get my new camera to give up its photos of my decorations, so I still don't have any to show...drat. But the house is beginning to look a bit like Christmas... I sense a song there! The creche is up, from the stable to the wise men's tent, the village in between, it looks lovely. Funny how a few simple statues elicit such strong feelings of joy and wonder. The Christmas singing animals are out too, and they go through their concert whenever I pass by. The Jingle Pig was first, the Jingle Reindeer the last, and I never thought there could be so many! I plan on taking one to work on Christmas eve. I work in a huge fabric shop (sheer heaven to be around all that fabric) and I don't think the staff will mind a few quiet songs, eh?

I hope the season's joy and awe is wrapping you in warmth and love.

Christmas

Christmas brings great joy and love into my life, and I truly love the season, both for the family connections and for the awesome gift of God come down to earth for me and all sinners. Thank you God! I have barely begun to decorate, it has been busy here, and I had a whallop of a migraine, but tonight and tommorrow, I will decorate up a storm! Until then, let the lights of Christmas remind you of the love of God.

Compliments of the Season

Well it is winter in northern VA, cold and wet. The pretty snow of a few days ago is but a memory now, and there will be three more days of cold and wet. My daughter is wishing she was back in San Diego, where the days are predictably warm and sunny. But then they have just had 6 inches of rain, so even the predictable isn't. As Christmas draws closer I look forward to seeing my son too. The holidays can get so harried and rushed, I want to just slow down and enjoy the advent, the anticipation. Remember to breathe and slow down, and do a little art. And if it were to snow a little, that would be okay too.

(We are sorry You have to come because of our sins...)

Welcome, oh Welcome!

Tempus Fugit

 
I was looking through my photos for one of my son, and it suddenly struck me, how quickly time has flown by. "Flown" doesn't do it justice. Baby photos were next to Bootcamp Graduation. When they are bitty babies, they look so angelic. They are not, of course, but I think God makes them look that way so that when they drive us bonkers, we won't throttle them. Now my Son is a Marine, preparing to go to Iraq. I am so proud of him.

My daughter too is all grown up, working towards a career in fashion of some kind, and I am proud of her maturity too. I am so blessed. In this season it is good to look both backwards and forwards. Of all Gods gifts to us here on earth, my family is my most precious.

At the start of the snow

This was the beginning of a beautiful snow. This is my even more beautiful daughter Meghan. The picture was taken by her handsome brother. All in all, a good day!

After the snow

When I got up this morning, there was a perfect postcard view of 4" of snow out of my back door. I was running behind, and said I would take photos at work, but didn't. Then about 5pm one of my coworkers gasped and pointed out the door, and the sunset was a blaze of pinks and oranges and blue. I grabbed my camera and shot out the door and took several exposures. Some didn't turn out at all, but this one at least catches some of the glory of that sunset. I took my breath away! I hope I can catch some of that color and get it onto paper or fabric. I can't wait to try. Well, only until tomorrow, anyway.

No deep philosophical truths today, just a couple pics.

Longings...

I spent ten years in the Navy, too many years ago to admit. I enjoyed my time in, but was glad to leave when I did. Once in a while though, I get a little nostalgic about the sea, upon whose breast I spent as much time as possible. Then I play sea chanties and watch movies or look at pictures and exchange sea stories with my husband. He spent over 30 years in, and has many more stories than I do, but I do have a few that could surprise (or shock) a listener. A few weeks ago, I was in a sea mood, and decided to try to create something to evoke a nostalgic and romantic mood. Now don't get me wrong, the sea isn't all romance, there is alot of slogging through storms and getting hot and dirty, but we sailors don't want to think of those times. We want to remember the good times, to laugh with our buddies and start anouther sea story which begins with "this really happened, no s***"! So this is a romantic reminder of those adventurous, exciting and fondly remembered nights on the sea. Enjoy!

Memories of Mom

There is definately an art to photographing artwork. While I am learning, please forgive my shortcomings. This work is a piece I did to remind me of my mom. She is the woman seated in her engagement gown, handmade by her mom with no pattern! The blur top left is an angel, covered with a thin layer of fog created by xpandoprint. The bottom left is a young girl seated on the rear bumper of a car. I haven't any photos of my mom as a youngster, so I have simply reassigned this one to her. Although I learned alot of new techniques, its real purpose is to evoke her memory. The making of it certainly had an evolution of its own, significantly changing from my original vision.

I looked out the door the day after Thanksgiving, and the winds work had been completed. Nearly all the leaves had been stripped from the trees. We have had so little rain that I am sure they were more fragile, and the wind had gusted at 25mph, only the brown of a few oaks clung to the branches. The oaks generally hang on the longest, seemingly until spring, but the others are the brighter golds and reds that glow through the forest behind our house. There is a railway track about 200 yards behind our yard, and in the summer, you can hardly see the trains as they speed into the city with workers. Then comes the fall, when we can open our windows and hear the engines. Then the cold, when the leaves fall and the trains suddenly appear through the trees. I love this time of year!

I Am Thankful

I am thankful first for all God has done for me, even the things that are painful. Through them I have grown. I am thankful to all the wonderful men and women in our Armed Forces, for stepping out and putting themselves in harm's way to defend us. Because of them our country remains free. I am thankful for all the people (too many to name) who have had an impact on my life. Because of them I am who I am. And I am very thankful to and for my family, all of whom I love very much. I am blessed.

Golden Autumn

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! This morning it was sunny and crisp, then the day got warmer and greyer. I still got a couple of pics outside though. The squirrels are positively brazen, altough they keep a weather eye on us, they fully expect to be fed. They even chitter at us if we aren't forthcoming with peanuts. Little bandits. But feeding them provides kitty tv for the furballs, so its okay.

Thanks all for the "tiny project" file, I feel like I can now create a little, and not get bogged down, time-wise. I particularly love the little pincushion in a bottlecap idea. Gotta go by more coke!

It has been so very dry here this year that our autumn colors are a little less vibrant than past years, but still lovely. The fabric store I work in is in a strip mall that has several brilliant maples and poplars, and one in the mall I shop in has ginkoes all over. I have been capturing them to press; too bad the colors dull down after falling.

I have also just brought in the last (probably) cuttings from the herb pots. I got lemon balm, lemon verbena and mint, rosemary (that's for remembrence) and lavender. Friday will be make skin creams day, and maybe soap too. My three day weekend starts with a day in the kitchen, ends with teaching a class, and the middle is the making stuff for gifts. Not a restful time, but surely a productive time. And that's good!

Art Every Day

Do you readers out there make time everyday for creativity? I have time and again said that I will, even if just for a few minutes, make something creative every day. Time and time again, I find I can't think of something to do that won't take "too much time".Do any of you have suggestions? Except for cards... I have made lots of those! Some are on my wall for inspiration, but most languish in a box awaiting a recipient.

Inspriation

It is all around me, and surely all around us all. The brilliant reds and golds of the trees, the forest floor of fallen gold, the palest blue sky, or the soft grey of a rainy morning. Outside my window today, a meadowlark called, succeeded by the gentle cooing of turtledoves. There is a moist smell of soil outside; a treat in these parts, parched as we have been this year.

About the time I start to get all misty-eyed from the sheer beauty of the Earth, my two cats run up the stairs and began rocketing themselves from one window perch to another, making as much noise as a herd of rhinos in full stampede! Okay, even that can be inspiring, they are a wonderful blonde color, the same as a pale gold just out my back door on a tree I can't tell whether it is an ash or a sumac. (A botanist I am not.)

I haven't yet experienced a period dry of ideas or inspriration, but I am still new to art. I think if I get a block, a nice long walk in the rain will melt it away. Life is good.

I have just returned home from the funeral of the child of a dear friend. She was only 25, and died in her sleep, not to be found until about 6 hours later. The police treated it as a crime scene, and wouldn't let the mom touch her, tore the appartment up and confiscated her phone and clothes, it was awful. No parent should have to bury their child. The mom had done the hair and makeup for the viewing, she is amazing. Her daughter was studying holistic healing and skin care, and the mom wanted her to be beautiful, and used all the secrets her daughter had taught her. I guess she had finished her time and tasks on earth, she is with God, but this is so hard on her mom. Thanksgiving will be hard.

Finally

Well, I have successfully gotten my first artwork on my blog. You wouldn't think it would be so hard, but it wasn't long ago that I wanted to go through life computer illiterate.

I also thought I would post a picture of the trials and tribulations of a cat mother trying to convince the cats to go elsewhere. Sigh. They simply ignored me.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Natures peace will flow into you as the sunshine into trees. The wind will blow their freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off you as autumn leaves. J. Muir

Argh

I have just got to get a new camera, a digital. Yes I know, I am far behind the times. I am being dragged into the 21st century, kicking and screaming. I thought I would have pics to put up, but they are pathetic. Friday will go buy a camera. Sigh.

I am almost there! Where? At the point of putting my first art up for sale! This will be a big step for me... I really have never considered myself an artist, but I am stepping out on a limb. Tomorrow I should be posting my first pics, then joining Etsy. What a wonderful thing Etsy is. At least it looks that way to me. Would any of you out there have any words of wisdom? Have you sold on Etsy? Or anywhere else? I am excited to be starting this part of my life. It feels good. Talk to y'all tomorrow!

Freedom requires more than passivity. It requires participation. You need to be informed to make good judgements in our great duty, voting. I voted today, did you?

I am in the process of rearranging my studio space... I have added two sets of shelves, with one more to go. Too much stuff, too little space. Somehow I still manage to do a card to my son or to bind a book for a friend, though, so life is good. How do you fit it all in? I have so many things circulating in my head, I can't always get them down onto paper. Or in my case, mostly it is fabric. Ah fabric, a siren indeed. Now where are my scissors? Oh yeah, under that BIG pile of art stuff. I should find them by the end of the week. Now go get creative!

Some days are diamonds, and this was a pretty good one. Unfortunately, that was only true professionally... my studio is in a truly unusable condition while I install about 10' of shelves. Since there isn.t really any room to take things away to, it is all piled on top of, and beneath my cutting table. Mt Everest has nothing on me! Now if I can talk my daughter into taking photos of that with her snazzy camera, I could probably make the Guinness Book!

There is so much going on in the world that is sad or scary or depressing, it seems every day a new madness has been detailed. Today, Pakistan. Tomorrow, who knows. The world is trying to implode it seems. Maybe that's why I need to be creative, and when I can't, the craziness gets under my skin. Not that creating solves anything, just that it distracts me and lets me see the beauty that, regardless of all we do, surrounds us. There is more beauty than ugly, but the beauty isn't news, only the ugly. Sigh. Got to get that room back together, for my sanity's sake!

Apparently I have done the setting up of this blog successfully... surprises never stop! I am determined to spend a little bit of time on art at least every other day, and get the pictures of my art up too. I will try to post daily, but no promises.

As I write, one of my cats is periodically trying to distract me from my tasks... but to no avail. I staunchly set my jaw and ignore his standing on my hands and rubbing my face. Oh, all right, I 'll hold you for a while... see why I can't get anything done?

So begins my foray into blogs...