CLAY PLAY DAY...YAY!!!

Off to Two Crow Cottage to play in the wonderful organic clay, and Dear Sweet Nina presented me a very thoughtful gift that she acquired at the Cragsmoor Library Sale...I love them...~  dominos...I ignored the clay while I just dumped them out to play with them, and since I am a LOVER OF PASSION...well here you have it!!! 

A fun gift from Nina...

Fun clay tiles and buttons and an incense burner for my "passion" incense...

The large tiles will be bisque fired, then painted and fired again...
minis will fire just once! 

THANK YOU NINA...

 

                                          

Play Day

It's a very productive Sunday!

The sheets are drying on the line, (for there is nothing finer than air dried bed sheets)...the kitchen sink is empty and shining bright (which makes me smile), and it is relatively quiet.

Thankfully, that is, after a Saturday morning rush to URGENT CARE with our oldest daughter for what looked to be Anaphalactic Shock... We are breathing a big sigh of relief, as she is on the mends from a severe allergic reaction to something, that is yet to be determined. Up all night with worry gave me the opportunity to plan a Sunday at home instead of at Long Beach Island with some close friends...

So, born today is a new batch of "Passion" incense which is drying along side the mini clay incense burner I made for Mary, a true HIPPIE friend at work.  There are 3 mini clay tiles drying, too, that will adorn the 3 lucky herbal soaps that Nina has made for a new friend we made at the 
Little World's Fair in Grahamsville.

The clay, is not quite leatherhard in order to file the edges...but, soon...then the glazing, which always turns out to be an experiment in its own right.  Next week, we'll take a batch of glazed items to Gen's to fire in her kiln.  A very nice arrangement, indeed!

I am continuing the "relentless" pursuit of inner peace and enlightenment as

my husband of 25 years, and I, give in to the harsh reality of our

3rd and youngest child entering her senior year of high school!

Where does the time go?  It is truly BITTERSWEET! 
 

So, as I, the MOM, try to figure out what comes next, I'm keeping busy with plenty 

of my favorite items on hand with which to create...chaos...

~BOOKS AND PAPER~

 

I Love My Job...

And who doesn't love Dennis???  Except for maybe, Mr. Wilson...

Local artist, and Dennis the Menace illustrator visits the local library!

And HOORAY for me!  My very own picture of Dennis reading a book!

You can also find Dennis on a US Postage stamp.  We were lucky enough to have the 

first day of issue at our local post office with the artist in hand to autograph.

Thank you Ron Ferdinand!

Into the Woods...

It is peaceful living in the woods, that is once you get used to the night noises of the owls, and of course the serenade of the summer peepers.  The first time I heard a pileated woodpecker, I was waiting for something to come flying out at me swinging from vine to vine.  The cicadas song is a constant buzz, a seemingly distant sound, of which you don't even hear, unless you really listen.  For it is ever present.  There is nothing more peaceful than to awaken with the sun and the songs of so many different birds.  And of course, the black crows, or ravens who visit me, carrying a message from Nina, remind me of how to adjust my own life flight plans, when the winds blow into my life.   There truly is magic in everyday, and we must be ever watchful, lest we miss the opportunity to respond with creativity, and yes, PASSION!!!

Now this one must be a "passion" mushroom, heart shaped dual caps, MELD INTO ONE!

Sunday was a time for reflection.  I even walked barefoot in the light rain through the grass.  And walking through the woods always produces some thought provoking inspiration from which to draw on for yet another project.  For after all the rains, the tornado, hail, crazy weather of late, topped off by the 90 - 100 degree temperatures, there lies on the mossy woodland floor an array of beautiful mushrooms.  Yes, fungi...some so teeny tiny they are smaller than the smallest of acorns.  They are red in color, same color of "passion".  Some are yellow, and brown, some are spotted and there are white ones with the most amazing patterns under their CAPS.

 

 



They are beautiful in their own right, and some are even poisonous but yet, they sit undisturbed, reaching up out of the ground for me to capture

and share with you. 

  I think they smile at this destiny.  ENJOY!

 

Passion...unleashed!!!

In an effort to gain focus on "Now and the Future" I have vowed to move forward 

with my art.  And though I don't possess any particular talent or skill, 

like painting, or sculpting, or jewelry making,

I am reminded very clearly of when I began my journey into "altered books".  

For all 3 of my first books came about somewhat effortlessly, without much thought...

it just happened!  And my books came to life!

and they each had a very basic theme...passion.  

 Deep seeded...passion, that is apparent within my creative soul...

    

Creating something helps me to dig deep into my soul 

for additional strength as I seek balance.

  For now that my children are grown, they don't need me as much, 

and I feel somewhat lost and abandoned.

I feel my life going in a new direction, a direction that actually includes my needs and wants, something for ME...not MOM~ME/MOMMY...but just plain old ME. 

I've been busy taking more photos...walking in the woods with my 2 dogs...

picking up perfectly rounded  rocks to stack...

and acorns, still green...making paper cranes...

and blending and rolling my very own incense, thanks to Nina of HAPPY HERBS SOAP.

  So here, drying in my meditation bowl handmade for me by Nina, 

are my newly rolled cones of incense from a special blend 

that I created in the studio at Two Crow Cottage.  

This personal blend never had a name...until now...very simply...I named it, PASSION!

It is reddish in color, which I believe is the color of true passion.

  Red and burning hot!!!

Here are two paper cranes, that I named TRAV & JESS preparing for flight

as Nina's 2 incense crows burn that soaring instinct into their spirited souls.

I am on a mission...a journey to be happy, enlightened with new found wisdom 

that will bring me inner peace and joy, as I struggle to let go!!!

Summertime...grad party season

come in...stay awhile...

don't mind if I do!

the bentwood trellis from our earlier arty tea party...

Andrea's beautiful gardens are an impressive backdrop for a  party.

She even has "Sweet Annie" planted amongst the very tall butterfly bushes.

Can you see her back there?  SWEET ANNIE...

The party was a huge success, with good old-fashioned fun for folks of all ages...even the very competitive volleyball game.  I will leave those pictures and those stories for their families to tell, but it was a rejuvenating gathering of friends, ending with a campfire with Joe spinning some great tunes...I even danced...all by myself... a fabulous event!  THANK YOU ANDREA AND JOE, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER, NATALIE!

Bathing Beauty...

At the Arty Tea Party held at the wonderful gardens at Two Crow Cottage, Nina assembled a fine space for us to create "CAULK TRANSFERS".  Through Kitty's instruction, (thanks Kitty for jumping in there at the last minute), we made some cool image transfers using caulk, of all things. 

Here is mine...She is sweet!

And here are some pictures of the great gardens of HAPPY HERBS SOAP!

So very inviting!

Come, come into the garden...sit a spell...

Now, use your imagination to discover what's through here...

Affectionately posted by: VICKI, who was completely outofhand yesterday...and for that matter, today, too:)

 

Determination

The chaotic side of my creativity is sometimes counter productive.  For at this moment, I have more unfinished art projects than I care to admit.  I think back to my first altered book that I named, "PASSION'S SLAVE".  It was a tiny little board book that came to life quite effortlessly.  I didn't think about it, I didn't plan it...it just happened.  And my 2nd altered book named, "YOU'RE MY THRILL", came to life the exact same way.  They are tucked away in the bottom drawer of a dresser in my abandoned attic studio.  I have shown them in public only once a few years ago when I participated in the ALTERED BOOK/BOOK SHOW at Hamish and Henry Bookstore in Livingston Manor.  They were not for sale...they were a part of my soul then, as they are now.


Well, tomorrow, I will take them out and put them on display in a very prominent location so as to kick-start the creative chaos into high gear again and dig down deep into my soul for some loving inspiration to perhaps finish some of these projects.


It's late...tomorrow's another day...

Walking Labyrinth

While vacationing in Delaware, I found Lavender Fields and a wonderful
Walking Labyrinth.  

Here I am in the center of it feeling absolutely happy!  Can you tell?

 And below is my lovely daughter in deep thought...always...a Philosophy Major.

For more on the Labyrinth and the beauty of Lavender Fields, visit 

http://lavenderfieldsde.com/

More beauty of the vacation is this terrific cactus that bloomed
just for us on our last day.

It hangs inside the outdoor shower next to the pool, 

and we were careful all week long not to disturb the buds.

Voila...it bloomed for us on our last day! 

And here is my very own personal REHOBOTH BEACH PATROL...

Oh my darling daughters just loved putting those t-shirts on!  

I think the only reason they humored me was so they can say,

"Remember when Mom made us where those goofy shirts?"

I definitely created a memory!!!  And isn't that what

MOMS DO BEST???

Light Verse...

Behind the work of any creative artist there are three principal wishes: the wish to make something; the wish to perceive something, either in the external world of sense or the internal world of feeling; and the wish to communicate these perceptions to others.


These are words found in an introduction by W. H. Auden in The Oxford Book of Light Verse.  This book was at the book sale, and as I check daily at the book sales for some great treasure, I found this.  It speaks volumes to me.  I plan to use copies of these words in my next altered book project.  


Currently, I am working with newspapers and magazines...and have even made some new labels out of brown paper grocery bags.  COOL!

SPRINGTIME...HOORAY!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG in the Hudson Valley.  The blossoming trees are so beautiful.  After such a mild winter, I wonder if we will actually have a full spring.  Spring is my favorite time of year, for it is when all 3 of my lovely daughters were born.  I only hope that we are not plunged directly from this special time into full blown 80 - 90 degree days by the beginning of May!  For it is the promise of new life, the budding on the trees and surprise shoots and blooms peeking out in the garden, that give hope when we need it most.

While visiting the gardens of my friend Nina, of Happy Herbs Soap who can make anything grow, I found inspiration for making a new garden space in my rock bed.  Where I live, I have limited sun and more rocks than I know what to do with.  Yes, I have a rock wall that lines the entire front of my property.  When I try to plant anything, it is always a chore because of the large rocks that I encounter while dig...dig...digging.  The rock wall gets taller and taller each growing season.

I am hopeful...every Spring I am hopeful!!!

HAPPY SPRING TO ONE AND ALL!

Winter in the Northeast

Well, it is 60 degrees this late February day here in the Northeast.  And we are all enjoying this wonderful, mild winter.  Especially after last year and the 3 feet of snow in one storm days...  The crocus and the daffodils are already peeking out.  Hopefully they will not be damaged by the freeze that is expected this evening along with a bit of slushy mess.  It won't be long now!

BE STILL MY BEADING HEART...

Found great inspiration today...http://treasures-found.blogspot.com

Check out the Earrings Everyday Love Fest... http://earrings-everyday.blogspot.com/

You will be inspired, too.  I promise!!!

More Doodles Unleased

Arty Tea Party Project...Doodles Unleashed workshop with Traci Bautista

It was fun to watch everyone get started.   Some of the ladies had a very hard time stepping outside of their comfort zone and just "LET GO".  Now, I will make a photocopy of it and cut it up to use on other projects.   This was great fun.  Creative Art Play...

Visit the Talented Chics of the Arty Tea Party at http://artyteaparty.blogspot.com

And if you want to see what Janet is doing while she is enjoying the mild, midwest winter, visit her at  http://janetsartplay.blogspot.com/  She, too, has taken the online workshops with Traci Bautista via Strathmore Artist Studio.

HAVE A GREAT CREATIVE DAY!  Aloha ~

Where's the snow???

This is a picture of a few winters ago...here in the northeast, we have had some very strange weather.
At the end of October, we had a freak blizzard that crippled the entire area, downed trees, leading to power outages for a couple of days.  Quite bizarre.
And just last week, the end of January, there were kids out in 55 degree weather in shorts.  Now that it is February, the chill goes down into the 20's at night, but right back up again today in the sunshine to around 40.
So, in order to feel the winter that many here wish we had, I am posting an old photo.  And honestly, I wouldn't mind a nice big snowstorm.  The soup is on, and game day plans are underway...

Nina is at Rosendale Winter Market today with her Two Crows...Hope she is having a fine day!  Her "winter's spell" incense crows are keeping me company today as I sort and organize while waiting for the Super Bowl.

Friday Fill-Ins

And...here we go!

1. Go ahead, there's some paint for you, too

2. A new car, I'll get that soon!

3. Don't worry, BE HAPPY:)

4. The cat is in charge for the day.

5. Pretty much of what's happening with me is peaceful.

6. It's okay with me.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to movie night, tomorrow my plans include art play and Sunday, I want to watch a GREAT SUPER BOWL!

Want to play Friday Fill-Ins...go on...you can do it!!!

 Friday Fill-Ins...

Creative ArT Play...

It's a bright cold, snow covered day here in the Northeast.

A great day for "CreAtiVe aRt pLaY".

I joined an online workshop with Tracy Bautista at

Strathmore Artist Studio and though, I had a different 

idea in mind, this is the end result.  

I will continue to play with this at our next

ArTy TeA PaRty on Feb. 2 at Kelli's house!

Lots and lots of layers!

I'll make a copy of it, cut it up and use for other projects:)

Give it a try...It's GREAT FUN!

HAPPY HERBS SOAP GIVEAWAY

Nina, of Happy Herbs Soap is hosting

 her first blog giveaway!  Visit her @ http://happyherbssoap.blogspot.com to enter 

and read all about how to fight the winter blues!

Art Journal Page

When trying to keep up with the blog and creative play, all while working and being a domestic goddess..well I found myself at 9:00pm diving right into this piece of paper.  It just took me away.
It was inspired by Roben-Marie, and what I really like about this page is, that my youngest daughter sat quietly watching me, and just said..."I'm so loving how you do this."  It made it all so special!

Hot Fun In The Summertime

Another lovely tea party at Dear Sweet Nina's Two Crow Cottage. 

                                 A creative day all around.                                          

Nina's grape arbor just whispers...

"Come, come into the garden...come see what awaits!"

 

      

Good Friends, Good Food, Good Cheer!  Nina is the BEST!

Check out more at http://artyteaparty.blogspot.com/

http://happyherbssoap.blogspot.com/