digi-scrapp'n attempt

I've been wanting to try digitial scrapbooking for ages now. Don't look so shocked - I'm still a paper freak, but I like the idea of doing it with photoshop, saving my real paper for my art. I'm not a fan of scrapbooking, but doing it 'digi' style is really floating my boat! Not to mention all the free supplies out there - I can download paper, embellishments, ribbons, etc for both free and minimal expense - and use it over and over again. Hey - I'm savin' a tree here!

This is my husband Pat. We did a Raku fire at Georgies in Eugene last fall, and this is his first shot at handbuilding pottery. He made a wall sconce, then fired it in my studio - then took it to Eugene to do the raku fire. We had a blast.

Blue

I haven't written much in the past week or so. Sometimes I just have no words. I write here because I'm not a paper journaler. I'm a typer. I don't have a clue if anyone reads this thing or not, so I'm not writing to an audience - just myself. Well my best friend reads it (she supports everything I do), but other than my art challenge days (inspire me thursday, studio friday, etc.) I don't know if anyone is reading any other days. So is it safe to go on about everything that turns my world upside down? Probably - I don't really know that many people anyway - or maybe I do, but I'm 'invisible' remember.

I think I've been in the blues since my birthday. That wretched day that I literaly was invisible. And with me one shade of blue turns to another darker one, then another darker one and so on..... Tonight it lifted. My oldest son has been suffering from a broken heart all week. Young love - when it crashes, the world is over. I've just felt his pain all week long - his worry - his mistakes. Tonight he got a break - from the worry. He's still home, alone in his sweet house, but he's learned something about himself and he's willing to grow to become an even better man. How can I not be proud of that? I just pray that he keeps his strength - and doesn't put his self worth in the hands of women, but holds it true in his heart instead. He's the most fragile tough guy I know. Tonight blue doesn't look like such a sad color after all.

Inpire Me Thursday : In Good Time

This was made in 35 minutes, including drying time (with a heat gun), for this week's Inspire Me Thursday challenge : In Good Time. Click on the pic to learn about the details.

Taking some time to smell the flowers

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In my attempt to make my myself feel better, and put a close to my pitty party, I bought myself a hydrangea, since I've managed to keep my haning basket alive that my kids got for me for mother's day. My sweet kitties are check'n it out.

My new treasure

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I just love love love my new bracelet from Amanda. Her special touches make her designs unique and oh so pretty. This little gem has a dragonfly charm and a tassle at the clasp - a very nice touch! She also spoiled me with Bath & Body Works goodies that I haven't had since living in Los Angelas - so that was a real treat! I'm so thankful to have spent my birthday with her - not only because I love spending time with her, but she made my day something to celebrate.

My poopy husband gave me his usual gift..... nothing. I try to tell myself ahead of time to expect that so I'm not upset - but you would think just once he would make an effort for me. He even knew I was upset so he tried to make it up to me by buying me flowers the NEXT day. This would be a nice gesture if he did that right, but he didn't. Let me give you some history here - not only did he ask me what I wanted for my birthday (which let me to believe I might actually get something this year), but we also had this major 'flower lesson' at Fred Meyer the other day. (God forbid he get me nice flowers at a Florist, but he is the cheapest guy on the planet - so I'll take the Fred Meyer flowers over nothing). Well almost - so we looked at all the flowers they had a few days before my birthday and he was asking me which ones I liked. I showed him sunflowers, peonies, gerber daisies - all kinds of affordable stuff. Then I showed him the ones I absolutely hated.... garnations... those tiny spotted 'lilly' looking things (don't even know what they are called), crysanthimums, etc. I even commented that they are the 'doggie doo doo' of the flower world, which he thought was funny - so I know he was listening. So guess what he brought me the day AFTER my birthday? You guessed it - the crap of the flora world.
I KNOW we don't have money for expensive jewelry or for him to take me on some fun and fabulous shopping spree - but come one.... don't try to mend my broken heart with a slap in the face. I'm still furious - and he's playing the 'poor beaten puppy' role with me so I'm supposed to feel sorry for him, being a dick to me. WHATEVER! I was hoping that venting here would make me feel better, by releasing it, but so far I'm just refueling my dissappointment. Oh and did I mention my dad didn't call me either - OF COURSE. I hate men, I really do. They can all go #@$% themselves.

So Amanda - you probably have no idea how much your presents and dinner out mean to me!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING ME FEEL LIKE I MATTER!

Birthday

Yikes, I'm 37 today.
Tonight I'm going out with Amanda to have delicious mexican food at our favorite local spot and enjoy the yummy margaritas - the blackberry ones are calling my name.

The other day I was eating an almond hershey bar and there was this little note inside:
"Candy is a treat. Eat responsibly" Well - that just blew the wind out of my sails. Maybe they should have written that on the outside and I wouldn't have bought it in the first place. Well I probably would have - but I would have dismissed the shame in an instant and bought it anyway, instead of feeling huge amounts of guilt as a melted the chocolate in my mouth so I could crunch the almond last.

100th post! And a reflection on a wondrous week

Wow - I've made it to 100 posts! I have learned that I'm not a journal girl - in a book with a pen, but it looks like I'm a blogger. Oh I can see some of you frowning.... Another person lost on the computer and neglecting the pen and paper, but that's not me - I promise. I love to write letters, real letters that require a lick of the ol' envelope and going to the actual post office. (Believe it or not, the post office still takes letters - not just eBay parcels). I love sending letters and cards, but a journal girl I am not. And that's ok.

OH!!!! But what what I am now is an ordained minister! Yes, you read that right! My friend Rosie and I are starting a chapter of The Church of the Craft, here in Florence. We are hoping to get it running by July, but it might be August. Craft?... you ask.... yes - not witch craft, but arts & crafts! Read all about it here. We decided to go full swing and become ordained. Like I said, it's been a wondrous week.

I sold 2 pieces of art this week too - that's been swell! And I'm waiting to hear from a company to see if they will be accepting a piece of art that I sent to them, into their catalog. Please cross your fingers for me, because I really need this gig.

My oldest son Trevor and his sweet girlfriend Mickala got all dolled up for prom tonight. Aren't they a lovely couple?

I'm working on a commissioned pendant right now. I'm having a bit of a tough time with it because it's not my artwork she wants soldered up, its icons of our town on one side and icons of New York and California on the other. I think I did ok though, I've been tweek'n images in photoshop all afternoon. Tomorrow I'll solder and add beads and it will be ready for delivery on Monday.

My birthday is coming up on the 15th. As I look at my life I still feel like a kid, not like I'm turning 37. I'm sliding down the slippery slope to 40! How can that be? I don't own a house yet - or a terrific car - that's what responsible adults have, right? I'm still dancing around the house to club tunes and looking up new hello kitty items on eBay. What's wrong with me? Oh well - hopefully I'll stay 'young' forever and when the grandkids come along, they will think I'm the coolest granny on the block. Holla! LOL

It's all about the bling

My sweet sweet friend Amanda has started a jewelry business. She is an amazing bead artist and you must check out her etsy store: BellaAzule.etsy.com I can't go anywhere without people gushing over my necklace, when I wear it - she's amazing. Why not treat yourself to something today - she only chooses the highest quality beads - and her prices are FANTASTIC!

I've just sold another painting/collage in the Small Picture Encore Show at the FEC. I'm so excited to have have 2 out of 3 at this show. Tomorrow I'll take in another new one to replace it. I'm doing the Snoopy happy dance right now.

I put some big paintings/collages on eBay tonight because they had a listing sale. They are a bigger 'chuck of change', but not as high as I was quoted to charge. I'm a firm believer of 'art for everyone'. So if you have some mad chedda' that needs spending, head on over and bid away! Head over anyway - even if you are window shopping :)

Casa del Sol

I just finished this one - the gel medium is probably not even dry yet. It's a beachy one without the traditional blue/green colors. I had this extra canvas, already painted with the background from a Try It Tuesday technique, so I used it. The starfish provides some romance for the couple.

And earlier today, this one:

I really struggle with photographing the accurate color, the detail shots are better. Click on my Flickr picture 'thingy' that you see in the right column for better shots.

Getting over it

I used to have this major issue of people seeing my art, reading anything I write, etc. I couldn't stand it. Blogging definately got me over that hump, and entering my art into gallery shows got me over the 'don't look at my art' thing. I would still prefer to show it on the internet than in person, and attending gallery receptions is so NOT my cup of tea - but I'm trying to get over it.

Don't laugh, but I'm always shocked when I find out I'm not invisible. Huh? you ask - what is this gal smokin'? No really - I assume that as I'm driving down the road, in the sanctuary of my tinted window car, that nobody can see me - wrong. Even yesterday, I was walking through the grocery store, minding my own business and kept wondering, 'what the heck are these people looking at?' "You" my husband said - "you look cute in your new shirt - that's why they are smiling at you" Oh how sweet of him to say that. But again, shock on my part. I'm like a kid who covers her eyes then thinks you can see me. I concentrating on finding my green tea Sobe, so I wasn't looking around to see who I knew so I could chit chat or say hello. I was on a green tea mission - so in my weird little brain I just figured I was undetectable. Yikes - maybe that bit of craziness is just too much to share, lol.

So anyway - I decided to update the artist bio that I have to hand in to gallery shows, for their book. Viewers can browse through the book to get to know the artists. Most are just plain jane typed paragraphs, so I thought I would make mine a litte more jazzy. (except for Meredith Draper's awesome altoid soldier - that one rocks) I decided to talk about my personal side a bit more - because I figure if you are reading the bio book to lean more about the artists, we better offer something up worth look'n at. I hope mine fits the bill and helps me crawl out of my shell.

Happiness is...

Selling art work you drop off for a show, before you even arrive home! Fun stuff - I got home from dropping 3 small works off for the 'Small Picture Encore Show' at the FEC and there was a message asking me to make something to fill the space - they had sold one already. Cool. My only gripe is that I wasn't told stuff we being sold 'off the wall' until I arrived, and the only stuff I have on hand is for the Tauk Tour sale. I'll be making more tomorrow I guess. I'm not complaining though - I'm too happy I sold something and "having" to make art is hardly a chore!

This one is in the show too. It's 8x8 inches. (the pink one above is just 4x4 inches). I love quote... it's by David Carradine.

Flossing

This evening one of my cats {Emma} drove me bonkers by finding every scrap of ribbon/fiber I own. She's an avid flosser. Yes flosser. She loves to put ribbon in her mouth, hold onto one end with her paw on the floor, then floss. Then I'm left with wet, nasty ribbon.... shrivelled up in a pile on the floor. At least she doesn't eat it I guess. So tonight she found my stash and if there was even a hint of it poking out, she buffed her pearly whites with it. My fabulous feline seems to floss more than I do - wierd.

Good to be home!

I'm home... 2 days early because I was feeling homesick, like a silly little girl. Thankfully I have the best kids in the world, and they understood. I am incredibly lucky.
While I was away, I had the best time outfitting Trevor & Mickala's new home. We had a blast picking things out. Tyler was his usual adorable self - all he has to do is smile and I just melt. He got the short end of the shopping stick, but he's a good egg and knew I had to help his brother out.
I travelled between my son's house, my mom's house, my sister's house and back again.... my mom got a kick out me lugging all my bedding around from place to place and actually made a chart for where I was staying on every night it was there. That was pretty funny.

So after a very long train ride beside a man with the worst smelling cologne in the world, I'm SO glad to be home. I spent the day at my desk, filling & packaging orders that happened while I was away, answering emails and phone calls and then out for dinner and margaritas with Amanda. My soul-sista in Florence. I would die here without her. I think I will pack her in my suitcase when I move to Bellingham. Yes, that sounds like a plan.