Artful Musings

Dia de los Muertos...........

2011-10-23T14:59:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful holiday! Lots of color, music, and light celebrating the souls of those who have gone before us! I find it much more acceptable than wearing all black and feeling sad (that's not to say I haven't done both, but the Day of the Dead approach is what I aspire to!) :)

Doll Hospital...................

2011-10-21T14:27:00.000-04:00

Tis the season! I'm doing a show this weekend with a decidedly "Day of Dead" / Halloween theme. I found some really creepy doll pictures, an old grocery box, shutter slats, the metal siding of a vintage wash board, rusty metal, and raggedy jute twine and turned it all into a doll hospital from the
dark side :)

Courtship.............

2011-09-26T14:16:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite themes revolves around the observance of Day of the Dead.

Wikipedia Definition: People go to cemeteries to be with the souls of the departed and build private altars containing the favorite foods and beverages as well as photos and memorabilia of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so that the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them. Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.

I love the humor associated with this celebration! The holiday embraces all of the things that I hold dear, respect for the past, respect for family both present and deceased, creativity, vibrant color, and humor. I have often used skeletal images in my art work and since learning of D of D, I feel as though my fondness for these images has come full circle. An upcoming art show in Ferndale will focus on my D of D art. Some people find my work to be "creepy" or "Tim Burton-like" (an honor of course). I'm hoping to spread the word about this annual observance, to gain understanding and to encourage others to learn about this wonderfully rich tradition.

The following are some excellent websites that will provide basic information about The Day of the Dead tradition:

http://www.dayofthedead.com/
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-history.html

The Learning Curve..............

2011-09-01T11:52:00.002-04:00

With every new endeavor, there is a learning curve, right? Well my fledgling art business has sent me a few whopping curves this summer. Instead of frustrating me though (okay, maybe I've been a little frustrated) I'm looking at each encounter as an opportunity to grow. Most of that isn't true but sounded like something I should be saying.

Case in point: I have been blessed with a small following of fans in Australia, a continent that I have longed to explore and hope to someday cross off of my bucket list. My Australian followers are supportive and kind and wonderful. The Australian postal system, however, not so much!!! One lovely follower ordered a piece I assembled called "The Condo". I love this piece and was very proud to send it to her. The problem? The piece is 24 inches high. Thus began my three month sojourn to the post office. It's not that my post office is so very far away, it's just that I made the trip a total of eight times. Each time I went, the postal worker would tell me that the postage rate was more than the last time I came. The hoops I had to jump through were unbelievable and ended with a postage due of 783.00!! Truly NOT worth it for my artwork! By the time I had to return the box to my vehicle for the eighth time, I was in tears. My follower, however was not to be daunted.

She then suggested that I disassemble my piece and pack it into a smaller box (the box size, not the weight being the primary problem with the postal system). Now I'm a nervous wreck. Take it apart? I had worked quite hard to ensure it's never coming apart when I initially constructed the piece. To make long story short, that is exactly what I did. It then packed in a much smaller container and off it went to Australia. Four weeks later, I received an email from my customer who exclaimed it had arrived intact and was already assembled and sitting on her table. Heavy, heavy sigh of relief!!!!!!! Again, a huge learning curve but one I am truly grateful for having experienced :)

Lynne Whipple Workshop

2011-07-26T21:22:00.000-04:00

I was fortunate enough recently to take a workshop conducted by nationally known mixed media artist Lynne Whipple. Lynne and her husband (an outstanding artist in his own right) held a collage workshop in downtown Ann Arbor last week hosted by Found (a wonderful little shop in Kerrytown which specializes in art and found objects just waiting to be turned into art).

My art journey in recent years began with collage and eventually evolved into assemblage. I signed up for the workshop in an attempt to return to my roots. I wanted to revisit the techniques I had used in early journals and collage efforts. This is a particularly turbulent time in my life as my son is shortly getting married and I have been hip deep in launching my art business. I thought that a lovely collage course taught on a sunny Saturday afternoon in one of my favorite cities would be soothing for my stressed soul, a balm to my raw emotions sorta speak.......

Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. Ms. Whipple's techniques along with the persistence of her talented husband had me so on edge by noon, that I nearly use the lunch break to jump in my car and go home!

The problem? The techniques being taught to me were so far out of my comfort zone, that I became increasingly agitated. I had a beautiful collage assembled on canvas. It was well composed, interesting, and whimsical. In short, it was exactly like many other pieces I have made over the years. Once I had completed it, the peace and calm I had achieved while pulling it together was instantly shattered. John Whipple came to my table and instructed me to edit my collage by painting over most of it with white paint! What? Cover my collage?? He then took particular interest in me as he sensed my reluctance to "let go" of the tried and true. Each time I tried something new at his insistence, he would come over and challenge me to do something else. A soothing balm? not even close! But, a wonderful, frightening, agitating, exhilarating experience? Absolutely! Thank you Lynne and John!

Rust Belt Market................

2011-07-11T14:22:00.000-04:00

Well, I had my first market showing this weekend. I was so nervous! It's been a year since I decided to retire from teaching and embark upon an art career. The year was fraught with ups and downs, including financial adjustments, empty nest syndrome, a house fire, and a total remodel. Two studios later, I was finally able to spend two solid months creating and finding my creative voice. Though I've received positive feedback from family, friends, gallery exhibits, and my contemporaries at Loving Mixed Media, this past weekend was my first public exposure to all I've done.

The most rewarding part of the whole experience, was the feedback I received from the artisans working the same market. It was so rewarding to meet other artists who understood me and appreciated my work. They were encouraging and supportive. In addition to that, they bought lots of my stuff! I would say that the public opinion was overwhelmingly positive as well. I did receive four comments that I took the time to write down because I found them amusing:

"Oh wow! This stuff is soooo creepy.....but in a sweet way!"
"Ooooh, this is totally morbid......but cool ...I guess"
"This all reminds me of Tim Burton and Beetlejuice!"
"Oh wow! I'm really creeped out here"

These four comments were definitely in the minority, so I didn't take offense. At the end of the second day, a gentleman came and spent a great deal of time looking at everything I had done and then he very quietly came over to me and said, "I really like all of the decisions you've made" and then he walked away! I thanked him and said that was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to me! I know he was referring to my art, but it almost felt like a very cosmic affirmation of the decision I had made to pursue art at this point in my life. It was very cool................

The above piece was sold at the market to a woman celebrating her tenth year free of breast cancer. She loved the sense of Hope in my piece, what an extraordinary compliment!

In the garden...........

2011-07-06T16:29:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite things about this medium (assemblage) is the journey. I love walking around my garage, my garden, or my art room looking at all of the bits and pieces that I (along with my family and friends) have collected with an eye towards putting them to use in a future project. On days when I am very lucky, something will jump out at me (though I may have passed it many times before without a similar reaction) and I will know exactly what to do with it.

I have often heard people refer to their "muse". I'm not sure what that means, but I will say that something definitely comes over me when I look at a piece of discarded metal or a block of wood and realize that it is the "perfect" fit for the piece I am working on at the time. Is that what a "muse" is?

My brother recently told me that he can't figure out how I come up with my ideas. He loves my work but having come from the same gene pool is at a loss as to where I get my inspiration from. I can only pray that it continues to guide me as I love what I do and would be bereft if the "muse" ever left for good. The above piece, "In the Garden" is assembled with broken garden fixtures, vintage door handles, exotic wood, flea market doll head, old faucet handles, and found wire.

PS I will be showing my work at the Rust Belt Market in Ferndale this weekend!

http://rustbeltmarket.com/

The Backyard Diva............

2011-06-28T12:29:00.000-04:00

My wonderful son is working on a landscaping crew this summer. They are responsible for clearing vacant and abandoned lots in a rather large city near us. Within a week of beginning this job, my son had every member of the landscaping crew (including the owner) picking up trash for his mother. Soon, I received crates full of rusted metal, discarded landscaping materials, and even broken toys. While some of the members of my son's crew may not completely understand why his crazy mom wants this stuff, they have been more than willing to join the cause!

The above piece is a tribute to my son and his work friends. It is composed of rusted metal, discarded landscape materials, acrylic paint, and found wire.

Out of Time.........

2011-06-23T01:12:00.000-04:00

My mother had a bucket list. It wasn't lengthy, but there were certain things that she wanted to accomplish during her lifetime. She wanted to learn a variety of languages and she did. She wanted to travel around the globe and she did. She wanted to excel at golf and well ....she gave it a good effort. In her 76th year, my mother decided to jump out of an airplane. In August of that year, she went skydiving with my then 18 year old son while her more cautious daughter videotaped the adventure from the ground.

Mom's next plan was to go up in a hot air balloon. However, shortly after her airplane experience, my mother was diagnosed with terminal second hand smoke lung cancer. Throughout her treatments and courageous battle to beat this horrific disease, mom talked about going up in a balloon "as soon as she grew stronger". She never did and almost a year to the day of when she jumped out of a plane, my mom died.

Following her funeral service, I handed each family member a helium balloon to which I had attached pictures of mom. Following a short prayer, we let the balloons go and gave mom her hot air balloon ride. The piece above is dedicated to my mom.............

All Hail.........

2011-06-18T14:11:00.001-04:00

From Buckingham Palace, to a street corner in the projects everyone wants their own little piece of the world...their own little fiefdom. Maybe it's because life so often feels completely out of control. I sometimes wake up wondering just what the day has in store for me.

To quote my favorite book of the month, "who is in charge and do they love me?" Will my experiences today be positive or negative ones? Where will I find myself at the end of the day? WILL I find myself at the end of the day? The unexpectedness of it all is, of course, what makes life worthwhile.

Who wants to know exactly what will happen each day. Humans like an air of mystery. We like surprises too...well some surprises :) A steady diet, however, of unpredictability can wear a body down.

Once more, I'm calling for some middle of the road time. A few predictable days a week would be nice. A calm ordinary day without surprises would be welcome. A day in which I am totally in charge of what happens to me and mine would be outstanding. A small piece of the world for however brief a time where I could stand tall and proudly proclaim that at this moment and at this time I am the Queen of my existence would be freaking amazing. All Hail Queen Patti.....................

The Social Network at it's best.............

2011-06-13T11:48:00.000-04:00

I have mixed feelings about the social network.

On the one hand, you hear wonderful stories about its potential to empower people who may not have a voice under different circumstances. Take for example the recent situation with Delta airlines and returning military soldiers (who were charged a ridiculous amount of money for bringing four bags home from their deployment instead of three), or the stories that come out of repressed regimes where ordinary citizens have been given the opportunity to unite against an unfair system of government. Closer to home, there are everyday stories of friends and relatives who have been reconnected after years of separation through the magic of YouTube and Facebook.

On the other hand, we know of several government officials who most likely regret exposing their private lives to a world wide network standing in the wings ready to exploit any sign of weakness or fragility. (What were they thinking?)

Does the social network merely add to the continuing erosion of our privacy and civil liberties? Or is it a useful tool designed to connect an ever shrinking society? I suspect, that like many things that at first seem too good to be true, it's a little bit of both.

I know I certainly continue to use it to promote this blog, Artful Musings and my business, Legacy Mixed Media. The above piece pays homage to a simpler time when social networking actually referred to people speaking with one another...face to face............

Bright Ideas

2011-05-11T13:22:00.000-04:00

Lake Orion Art Center puts on a really nice show each spring called Recycled Art Show. Art pieces created with re-purposed and recycled materials are featured. This is my third year in the show. It's an adorable venue and I really enjoy going out there for this event. The above work is currently on display at the Orion Art Center.

2011-05-04T16:30:00.000-04:00

When life hands you leftovers................
As a result of over planing for the wedding shower I recently threw for my future daughter-in-law, I found myself with an excess number of glass bottles when all was said and done. Utilizing E6000, vintage rulers, wings by Tim Holtz, a frozen Charlotte doll, and a variety of scrap papers/materials, I created an interesting new home for my pussy willows :)

Spring Cleaning..........

2011-04-27T20:58:00.001-04:00

As always, the season of spring brings me to thoughts of rebirth, home, family, and flight. My sweet little bird in this project has a colorful history. For those who have been following this blog for a while, the first completion of this bird resulted in my Mugsy Moo puppy biting its head off. I then created another head for him with paper clay and had just finished it when my art studio burned down. While digging through the rubbish, I found little bird charred and scarred but not completely destroyed. He has now been reconstructed for the second time and I believe he has found his final home complete with mailbox :) Everyone needs a little fun and whimsy in their lives..............

Day of the Dead Fairies!!

2011-04-15T16:08:00.000-04:00

Doesn't Spring just bring out the whimsy in everyone?! I love these fanciful characters!

To Fly or Not To Fly...is that the question?

2011-04-11T18:48:00.000-04:00

Here I am approaching Spring and once more my art tends towards birds and eggs. New birth, new life.

I am in the process of figuring out what my new life is going to look like. My early retirement is supposed to be about new beginnings. I periodically think about returning to teaching but wonder if that's my way of playing it safe. I like working on my art but realize that I need to do more to round out my life. I need to take classes or volunteer somewhere. After all, art is a reflection of the way an artist sees the world around her/him. The walls of my home are becoming a little too confining. So, the question remains, to fly or not to fly?

Happily Here After

2011-03-23T10:42:00.000-04:00

An Homage to Michael Demeng:
I spent the last couple of weeks pouring over Michael Demeng's latest book! He is amazing. I wanted to try some of his techniques on my pieces. I have always had a thing for "Day of the Dead" paraphernalia and love using skulls in my work. Demeng's style also incorporates skulls as he has a great connection to Mexico in his work. Here is my tribute to Demeng!

Bearer of Wisdom........

2011-03-20T20:16:00.000-04:00

"With age comes wisdom", isn't that what they say? Well, I keep getting older, but I sure don't feel any wiser! There are days, in fact, when I'm sure my brain cells are shrinking rather than swelling with wisdom. One thing is certain, though. I find myself thinking about those things that as a young mother I didn't have the time to ponder. I'm more introspective now that I've retired. I think about my family, my friends, and those things in life that are worth dwelling on. I also spend less time worrying about the minutia of daily living.

It all started with a revelation my friend Nancy shared with me after I retired. She informed me that she doesn't shower every single day! You see, after two months of freedom from work, I was still getting up every morning to shower and do my hair!#@! Not shower?? What a concept!

Once I contemplated that idea, I moved on to other "truths" I had adhered to over the years. This is what I came up with: The floors don't have to be clean enough to eat off of (that's what plates are for), the dusting can be done in preparation for company - not every flipping week, and the only person who will be annoyed if the bed isn't made every day is me...and I don't care anymore!

Hey, maybe that's what they mean by "wisdom comes with age"! Maybe wisdom doesn't have to be on the same level as developing the theory of relativity.....maybe it's just the wisdom to leave the damn bed unmade from time to time.....in that case, I'm golden!!! The above collage is dedicated to Nancy for opening my eyes ...............

Crying on the Outside.....................

2011-03-17T10:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes being a clown isn't all it's cracked up to be (no pun intended). This little guy is sad. Not sure why, but he certainly isn't enjoying his time at the big top! This assemblage was made with a chess board circa 1973 (which doesn't seem that long ago to me as that's when I graduated from High School), deconstructed doll, wire, and decorative paper....

Exultation.......

2011-03-15T15:47:00.002-04:00

We have a new associate priest at church. God Bless him but he is the most boring, negative, depressing speaker ever! I know he's new and he will find his groove, but in the meantime, I have found myself using his sermon time as a time for reflection on my art work. Two weeks ago, during a particularly grueling speech, I cleared my mind and asked for inspiration. The word "exultation" immediately flew into my brain and was followed by a complete image of what my next art piece would be. I have to tell you, I'm not a very "religious" person. I've never experienced the kind of comfort from church that others have. This moment of inspiration brought to me inadvertently by a struggling public speaker was as close to a spiritual experience as I've ever had. I also seldom know what my work is going to look like before it's completed, another anomaly. Here she is, "Exultation".....

Priceless......

2011-03-10T09:14:00.000-05:00

I spent six uninterrupted hours in the art studio yesterday! I just received a book in the mail written by Michael Demeng. I am a huge fan of his. His off the wall style and penchant for storytelling speaks to me in a way that is difficult to explain. I know there are those that feel his style is strange, but I love it! The art work I will be displaying in the next few days, is an homage to his work :)

Ahhhhh, here comes the sun!

2011-03-01T09:33:00.000-05:00

I entered my studio this morning to a very welcome sight.  The sun is shining through my new windows!  What a glorious beginning to the day. 

If you don't live in Michigan, it is impossible to describe the feeling of waking up on March 1st and seeing the sun shine through your bedroom window.  A loyal Michigander is always quick to defend our climate to outsiders by saying, "We LOVE the change of the seasons! We wouldn't have it any other way!"  But let's be honest.  Right around now, the end of February, the beginning of March that change of season cannot come fast enough!  It isn't necessarily the cold, and though this year enough is enough, it isn't necessarily the snow.  For me, born and raised in this great but deeply troubled State, it is the lack of SUN!  We face five sometimes six months each year of gray, cloudy days.  Oh there is the occasional brilliantly blinding sunny day that turns the now tiresome snow into sparkling diamonds but they are few and far between.  

The worst part of working full time for me was driving to work in the dark and returning home in the dark. Despite the best efforts of daylight savings time, the sun sets early in the north and we spend our days in darkness. If you are lucky enough to have windows in your place of work, you look out at gray cloudy skies then drive home in the dark. There is a marked difference in the way people behave in Michigan when the sun is shining. Endorphins are flying, people are smiling, manners return, and police officers enjoy days of ticketing ebullient drivers excited to have dry pavement and bright skies for a few hours.

I am looking forward to a very productive day with the sun as my inspiration.....................

Humility.........

2011-02-24T21:27:00.000-05:00

Another Just For Fun Challenge this week: Angel Wings
My contribution is called "Humility".........
I hope you enjoy it :)

And Sometimes We Have to Make a Living!

2011-02-23T09:07:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine is getting married in April and has asked me to make a wish box for her guests. having been out of the wedding circles for a number of years now, I had no idea what she was talking about. Luckily (as you can imagine) there are about a billion websites devoted to wedding stuff. After some research, I realized what my friend was talking about and this is what I came up with for her.......

Sometimes Silly is Enough!

2011-02-22T10:26:00.000-05:00

I often feel as though I should narrow my artistic efforts into a specific genre. It's almost always collage,, and assemblage, but I am sort of developing my own "style" or "voice". Sometimes, however, I just want to have fun and slap things down as the mood strikes! This piece is the result of a very silly mood.......

Little Angels

2011-02-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

Just For Fun Challenge....... Wings of a Bug!

Life is a Gift

2011-02-17T15:47:00.000-05:00

I've heard that tragedies come in sets of threes. I don't know about you, but there have been many times in my life when I've stopped counting! Sometimes sad news travels in packs of three, sometimes as singular occurrences, and sometimes the bad times seem to just keep on rolling with no regard for the "three" rule. It's at times like these that one can easily slide into a "the world sucks" mode.

I find myself guilty of this from time to time. It doesn't take much effort to give in to the temptation of feeling down and believing that life is all about sadness. It takes a great deal more effort to remember the things that are good and precious about our existence.

Our family, our friends, and our dreams, those are the things we need to focus on and remember when that old sadness comes creeping in. It's important to believe that life is a gift.........

Chocolate helps too :)

Reach

2011-02-09T11:04:00.000-05:00

Sometimes we have to reach beyond our demons to find peace .................

Supplication

2011-02-02T20:38:00.000-05:00

While sitting through a sermon in church two weeks ago, I drifted into  thoughts of frustration over the artist block I had been experiencing  since moving back into the studio.  I just wasn't happy with what I had  come up with thus far.  Suddenly, a word flashed into my mind that I  don't think I had ever used in my life. "Supplication"  On the heels of  that word, the picture of a  complete art piece formed in my mind by the  end of the sermon.  Miracle of miracles, the piece actually turned out  the way I had imagined it!  It feels good......

Nesting Beauty

2011-01-30T18:33:00.000-05:00

My little nesting beauty is gazing through the window wondering what lies on the other side.......

The Royal Prince

2011-01-27T10:40:00.000-05:00

One method I use to break through an artistic block is journaling, and another method is creating decorative boxes. I enjoy taking a variety of materials, developing a theme, and converting a plain wood box into something that's fun to look at. It's a great way to use up some of the stacks of art paper I find difficult to pass up when I shop. It's also a nice confidence booster.

The box shown here displays a tag with the image of a young man on it. The photo is vintage and I just love the expression on his face. Imagine having that kind of confidence at such a young age!

Texture on Canvas

2011-01-26T21:25:00.000-05:00

Canvas with acrylic paint, spackle, texture, collage.............Doesn't she just crack you up?

Journaling on Canvas Continued.....

2011-01-24T12:44:00.001-05:00

This was the first canvas I attempted when the art room reopened. I love the concept of windows and thinking about the unique distinctions between what individual observers see when they look out. When we lived in the hotel, I became aware of the impact the view from my window had on me. The room we stayed in was comfortable. We ha a kitchen, our dogs, a television, and eventually a computer...all the comforts of home :) But when I sit here on my own couch and look out the window, I see the beautiful pines in my backyard. Yes, they are covered with snow and being the cold weather wimp that I am, I will most likely not actually interact with those pines for several more months. But the sense of contentment I feel gazing at them from my window is beyond description when compared with the feeling of despair the asphalt parking lot evoked as seen from my perch in the hotel. What lies beyond your window? and how does it make you feel?.............

Journaling on Canvas

2011-01-23T20:21:00.001-05:00

I do a monthly art swap with my friend Veronica. We met on line and have been friends for two years. Each month or so we take turns choosing a theme for our swap and this month the theme is "small canvas utilizing texture". I decided to combine the canvas challenge with journaling as an exercise in bringing my creativity back up to speed. While the art "room" is fully operational, my art "brain" has remained on post fire hiatus. I did a series of three canvases utilizing spackle, modeling paste, acrylic paint, and stamps. I love this little girl's straw hat......

Fully Operational

2011-01-04T12:20:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was my first full day back in the newly created studio! What with the holidays and moving back into the house, it's taken me a while to get in here. I have to admit though, my re-entry has been partially due to procrastination. With my old studio, everything I put into it was comfortable, familiar, and repurposed. Though I only had the studio for three weeks, it was created by the culmination of many years of anticipation of the day that I would be able to move in to the room. My new studio is beautiful, complete, and BRAND NEW. The atmosphere is one of fresh paint, lingering fire smell, and new carpeting (by the way, I hate my new carpeting). With the holidays over, I had to force myself to come up here yesterday and spend the day playing with my materials. I managed to pull off three canvases that are in various stages of completeness. I still don't feel as though I'm working in my own skin (if that makes any sense) but as I make more of a mess with my mediums and papers, it's becoming more like my environment. I do have to come up with a solution for the fire smell, it's giving me a headache and strangely causes my ears to plug up as though I'm riding in an airplane. I'm not complaining, please believe me. I'm so blessed to have gotten my space back. It will just take time...in the meantime, I'm sitting here waiting for inspiration.........
PS No idea what the strange color bar across this old painting is...too tired to rescan

We're Back!

2010-12-09T14:11:00.003-05:00

Dear Friends and Family,

We would like to take this opportunity to share our story, express our gratitude, and extend our wishes for a wonderful 2011. Though holiday letters are not our usual style, recent events have prompted us to send more than the annual funny picture and handcrafted card.

The year 2010 brought many challenges, blessings, and changes for our family. We faced them all with my typical trepidation and Michael’s ever present optimism. Before going into detail, let me first say that despite all of the bumps in the road and difficulties, when all was said and done, we emerged stronger and closer than ever as a family. I’m constantly reminded of what wonderful boys we have and how incredibly lucky the four of us are to have each other.

Beginning with Joel: Our oldest is a continual source of pride and comfort. We are so impressed with the amazing human being that Joel has become. He has a heart the size of Montana and can be counted on by friends and family alike. Joel has been apprenticing with a talented interior finish carpenter this year and has learned a great deal while working very hard at both the carpentry and his night job at Hamlin Pub. Little did we know when Joel first began working with his boss that he would play a key role in one of our biggest challenges this year. In addition to all of this, Joel has continued to strengthen his relationship with Sarah, a young lady that we love and adore. I thank God for Joel every day. He is a wonderful son, an outstanding brother, and an all around great guy.

Trevor: our youngest (now 22) made us very proud by graduating from the University of Michigan in May. He found out earlier in the year that he had been accepted into medical school at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This of course represents both a blessing and a challenge from mom’s point of view! Soo happy that he was accepted at his first choice of schools, and sooo sad to have him move so far away! In addition to the academics, Trevor continues to excel in his efforts as a power lifter. He has steadily improved his personal best and derives great satisfaction from the sport. We miss him very much, but through the magic of the internet and cell phones have managed to keep in touch with our baby boy. We are so blessed to have Trevor in our lives.

Michael: This year has provided Michael with many learning opportunities at Televideo where he has mastered Final Cut Pro and has proven to be an editor extraordinaire. Michael’s support and understanding during some rough patches in my life have been invaluable and have proven just what excellent taste I have in men! His current project as an independent is a documentary film called The Goatyard. Many of his films have been shown at the Detroit Mitten Project this year. He is also sharing his editing talents as adjunct faculty for Baker College where he teaches basic editing techniques utilizing Final Cut Pro.

Mugsy and Meggie: Mugsy continues to be both a stinker and a constant source of joy to me! He is adorable and is beginning to sleep through the night. Meggie tuned 14 this fall and has had some health issues. The week we moved back home, she developed severe ear infections and Vertigo. It has taken her two weeks to begin to walk again and she still looks like a drunken sailor when she crosses the room.

The there’s me: Well, the year began with two different doctors giving me a knock up the side of the head. Within two months I heard the words, “at high risk for breast cancer” and “diabetes”. Combine that with a very rough economy, pressure from the state, and a family history of failing health by the age of 54, I decided to retire early. It was a very tough decision but something that I felt I had to do. I started an online art business and began my journey into the art world. I had a wonderful summer both creating art and spending every possible minute with Trevor. I lost 60 pounds, stabilized my blood sugar, and prepared to become an empty nester. We moved Trevor to Florida in August (lots of tears) and as a coping mechanism I turned his bedroom into my long dreamed of art studio. Of course a physical undertaking such as that could never happen without my injuring myself. Day one of remodel had me breaking my toe and Day two found me falling over a dog and destroying my knee. I ended up flying to Florida for Trevor’s white coat ceremony with a purple leg (it was also a great introduction to my new “retiree” insurance policy – no more trips to the ER for me! Did I mention that Trevor had a car accident three weeks before he left and we had just that amount of time to find him another vehicle?)

Trevor moved on August 31^st. My art studio was completed by September 9^th. On September 10^th we had a house fire that completely destroyed the art studio and resulted in enough smoke damage to move us into a hotel for two months. We had our dogs with us. It was cozy! The blessing: we all survived the fire (even the dang tarantula). The challenge: living in a hotel room with two dogs, having all of our belongings moved to a warehouse, losing everything in my studio (including lots of art work), dealing with contractors, unpacking four truckloads of boxes (the week before Thanksgiving) when we were finally able to move back in, and dealing with muscle pains we hadn’t faced in years.

Now for the gratitude:: It’s amazing to see the people who come forward when you find yourselves down and out. We would like to say that we couldn’t have gotten through it all without my brother and his family taking care of our dogs until we could bring them to the second hotel, my brother calling me every day to check on me, my sister-in-law making us a wonderful lasagna dinner, my father doing our laundry and helping to dog sit, my mother-in-law feeding us and helping to clean once we began moving back, Mrs. Becker feeding us, Dan and Nancy Burns feeding us every Wednesday for two months (those dinners became our little mid-week oasis in the midst of incredible stress and turmoil) and Nancy helping me to unpack boxes once we moved back, Deborah calling every week to check on me, Carol calling to offer support, Joanne taking me to dinner and a show to lift my spirits, Ryan and CamieLee sending me text messages every week to keep my spirits up, our next door neighbors Mike and Marilynn for taking us into their home, watching our things, and offering comfort, our neighbors across the street Jamie and Scott taking us into their home the night of the fire to use their phone and give us a place to sit while the firefighters did their thing (thank you to the firefighters!), the card and gift from Mike Nowinski to help us get through the extra expense of living in a hotel, MaryLou coming to the hotel to keep me company during some dark days, our son Joel putting in 115 hours of hard labor along with his boss to get our house back in living condition by Thanksgiving as well as coming to the hotel every Monday night along with Sarah to feed us and keep us company, the wonderful people at CropStop who sent me a care package of art supplies for the hotel room, and Trevor and Meghan coming home from college to help us unpack. If we missed anyone, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Thank God for friends and family! We are home, we are grateful and we are desperately wishing you and yours a fabulous holiday season and a safe, loving New Year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! The Pfaendtners J

A Blank Slate!

2010-10-05T14:51:00.000-04:00

Here it is! Stripped down to its barest elements, my studio!

I can't tell you how good it feels to have the smoke and debris pulled out of there. I feel as though I can breathe now when I go to the house. I'm focusing my thoughts on colors and function these days. When I created my previous studio, I used things that were a part of our home. I re purposed furniture and containers, and made due with what we had. It was perfect and I loved every inch of it. I am now in a position of replacing old with new. It's an interesting position for someone who focuses on the old and worn to create art.

Form and function war with aesthetics. I know that I want lots of counter space and plenty of storage. I plan to focus on canvas storage, box storage, and finding a home for all of my found objects. I'll need containers for paint and buckets for paper ephemera. I want it to look funky and fun and indulgent. I want my twinkle lights back and my crystals hanging from the new ceiling fan. Well okay, I guess I'm still describing my original space! It really WAS perfect for me! One change that I have been contemplating though, is to have a really cool french door (rather than the regular interior stock doors I have on the rest of the rooms) and I want to paint it purple! That's okay isn't it? :)

Life is what happens.......

2010-09-11T19:08:00.000-04:00

About three weeks ago, I posted a story about my brand new studio and the fact that its creation helped me with the process of becoming an empty nester. Well, as John Lennon once said, life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.

After going to a wonderful dinner with my brother and sister-in-law last night, my husband and I came home to a house fire. I don't have to tell you what a traumatic experience that was. The good news is that the fire was contained within my studio and that the rest of the house suffered smoke and heat damage only. The bad news is that the fire was contained within my studio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I no longer have a studio as that room was completely destroyed and is down to the studs in most places.

I know there are many blessings. Had we stayed for dessert, the whole top floor would have been destroyed along with my two doggies. Had the faulty extension cord (that has resided in that room for at least five years) decided to short out five weeks ago, my son would still have been sleeping in it as it had been his bedroom. Had we been in the house instead of at a restaurant, the cord could have shorted out while we were in bed and caused us to die of smoke inhalation.

All of those things matter a great deal and we are profoundly grateful for the powers that be upon whose intervention we owe a debt of thanks.

Add that to the fact that we are not allowed to live in our home for the unforeseeable future and I am now a homeless out of work artist with no art supplies, a sore throat (had to rescue the dogs didn't I?), burning eyes, and a burned out space that used to be my beautiful studio...it was great while it lasted (three whole weeks) and it will someday rise again in (oops, I almost said a "blaze" of glory)...a show of triumph!.....or maybe life has something else in mind...

PS Laptop is a molten heap, can only post if someone lends me their computer, hope to speak with you again soon

Carousel

2010-09-04T10:18:00.001-04:00

Hooray!

My Carousel was chosen for the Etsy Treasury site!  What wonderful company I'm keeping in that collection too!  You should check it out! 

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c81148f1a5f6d91c5c35465/ladies-and-gentlmen-boys-and-girls

ATC swap for Defining Me

2010-09-03T13:07:00.000-04:00

ATC SwapI hope I'm doing this correctly! These are the beautiful cards I received from Gemma! gemmasjournal.blogspot.com

For my friend.....

2010-09-03T10:28:00.001-04:00

I recently wrote about my swap friend Veronica. I described the crown that I had created for our newest swap.

Just as I finished the crown, I received an email from Veronica. She was in the middle of boarding up her store and evacuating from her NC coastal home due to the impending hurricane. On top of all of that, her husband is now facing possible health issues. I've never met Veronica but I know her to be courageous and loving, generous and kind. All of my thoughts and prayers are with her right now. If you have a chance, please send a prayer her way. Thank you!

Women Rule.....

2010-08-31T11:22:00.001-04:00

I do a monthly swap with someone I met through my Blog .  We either exchange ATC cards, small canvases, assemblages, or whatever strikes our fancy for that time in our lives.  It's been a wonderful experience and every new swap brings another challenge to my studio. 

The current challenge (chosen by my partner) was to create a crown that represents the person it is being sent to.  I wanted to make something that spoke to the dynamic, successful person my partner is.  She holds a position of great responsibility in her job and is looked upon as a leader in her company.  On top of that, she is a very creative soul who loves to travel and spend time with her husband.  Women Rule is meant to reflect those qualities I have found in Veronica. artbyveronica.blogspot.com 

One of the problems I have with my art is that I tend to try to translate everything in a very literal sense.  It's hard for me to let go of reality and just follow the muse. So, in my mind, a crown should be made of metal.  I gathered my rusty found metal pieces and began the process of trying to attach things to one another.  I don't have welding in my tool kit and my soldering is very limited.  

Having scrapped two crowns before settling on the one I am sending out, I decided to try my hand at using epoxy. This is something I had always shied away from. The process of having to mix two things seemed a little intimidating to me. Guess what? I love the epoxy! It worked beautifully and it wasn't hard at all. If you haven't tried it, don't wait. It works :)

Newest assignment.....

2010-08-26T09:45:00.000-04:00

A friend has asked me to create a guest sign-in vehicle for her upcoming wedding. She doesn't want a book necessarily, but is looking for something unique. I have heard of things such as painted tree branches, and keepsake boxes where people leave notes for the bride and groom. I really don't know what else is out there.

I'll be doing some research today to see what others have used. I would love to give her something special that will have lasting qualities unlike some of the things my husband and I used when we got married. There were the matching champagne flutes with our names and wedding ate on them, the tarnished (now) knife specially designed to cut wedding cakes but little else, the requisite garter with baby blue ribbon, and the ridiculously tight white cloth wedding shoes that I've never worn again.

Of course, we were married a little over 100 years ago, so things may have changed a bit! If you have any new ideas or have seen any unique items at recent weddings, please let me know. In the meantime, Google is my friend........

Change is good!

2010-08-24T12:05:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning with a new revelation. I am happy. Did you hear me? I AM HAPPY! How often have I been able to say that over the years? Don't get me wrong, I have been extremely happy raising my family, spending time with my friends, building a life with my husband. That's more of a "universal" happiness I guess. On a daily basis, however, how often can one get up in the morning and say, "I'm happy!"? During my 32 years of teaching I generally woke up feeling #1 tired, #2 tired, #3 leery of what the day would bring, #4 rushed, anxious, and overwhelmed with having to get out of the door on time, #5 worried, #6 tired, tired, tired......

I'm talking about a personal, one day at a time, "happy". I know you may be thinking, "yeah, that's easy for you to say, you're retired" It's true that I don't have to face the daily grind at this point. That helps. But that's not to say that there aren't concerns associated with being retired. For one thing, I have no money! Retirement comes with some pretty hefty financial sacrifices. There are certainly worries associated with that. And loneliness, I know that I will wake up some mornings in the Fall and wonder what my former colleagues are up to and whether or not I'll ever have any one to talk to again that doesn't have four legs and a tail.....

I have to say, in spite of those things, there is something purely wonderful about waking up with your own company, planning your own time, appreciating your own garden, dancing to Ellen De generous with your own canine pal, and just plain enjoying the day. We don't often get a chance to do that while working full time. Well, I did that working thing for a long time. I paid my dues, earned my retirement and have to say that today I feel truly blessed. Blessed, and happy...........

The advantages of getting organized..

2010-08-20T18:37:00.000-04:00

One thing I have discovered about having an organized studio (finally!) is that I am utilizing materials in my work that I haven't used in a long time.  Things that were stashed here and there, up and down tended to be forgotten and I ended up using the materials I could see in front of me.  You see, my previous studio (the kitchen table) could only hold so many things while still allowing room for my husband to eat his dinner.  As a result, I would keep a big bucket of vintage papers and ephemera, a huge bottle of gesso, a (I wish they came in huge bottles) small jar of gel medium, and a bucket of rusted metal. 

The rusted metal (being in plain sight) continuously prompted my husband to remind me that I haven't had a tetanus shot in decades and the gesso tended to splatter the nice new red kitchen chairs I have. Canvases were stored in the garage along with towers of old boxes and even more rusted metal. My black kitchen sink was continually splattered with white gesso and the tile counter top has Diamond Glaze on it that will NEVER come off.

My family was quite used to this arrangement and seldom complained about living with the table clutter and chemically enhanced sink. The result of this , however, was that all of my projects contained a combination of these items and very few other mediums. On the one hand, I was forced to always think of new and different ways to combine my limited palette. It stretched me in ways that may not have otherwise happened. On the other hand, many of my carefully (and sometimes not so carefully) purchased art supplies never made it out of their shrink wrap cocoons.

Enter newly organized and assembled studio! I'm revisiting old friends and discovering new ones that came home but were never utilized. Whether this is an improvement to my artistic endeavors, only time will tell. One thing is certain though, I have no need for purchasing more supplies. I said, "no need", not "no desire". Two very different concepts...........

What's old is new?

2010-08-17T21:45:00.000-04:00

I received a phone call today asking me to create some Santas for a fund raiser in Wisconsin. The fund raiser is to support women and children in need. The Santas being requested are something that I made years ago when I use to do the craft show circuit. The Santas consist of fabric, found objects and used mink coats. The mink part creeps me out a little because I have always been active in animal rights issues. But, the reality is that the coats already exist and this way they are becoming something useful rather than entering a landfill.

I really thought the Santas were behind me, but this is for a good cause and my fledgling business really can't be fussy at this point can it? Who knows, maybe I can put a new altered twist on it, maybe some vintage text.... or rusted metal...hmmmmm

Life is Like a Bag of Carrots.........

2010-08-12T09:46:00.001-04:00

Yes, I would rather life be like a box of chocolates, but recent conversations with my doctor have eliminated that possibility. I could also say that life is like a box of sugarfree chocolates, but having just read Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman/Kim Barnouin and becoming aware of the evils of aspartame, (apparently it has been linked to everything from arthritis to cancer) even that small compromise has been stolen from my life menu. Diet pop! Guess what it's flavored with? Yup Aspartame.

I know it's important to get healthy, but what is a Baby Boomer supposed to do? Maybe back in the Little House on the Prairie days, a nice juicy (worm filled) apple fresh from the orchard (that Pa planted with his own two gorgeous hands) was a special treat. But I was raised in the self-indulgent days of pesticides, preservatives, and every kind of salty, sweet snack man could think of inventing ( I say "man" because a woman would know better than to put addictive, worm free chemicals in our snacks).

I'm talking about the fast food generation. Who can think about high school without remembering trips to MacDonalds and Burger King after football games? I admit, having just lost fifty pounds, it feels good to be healthier. But maintaining that life style is daunting. I find my post retirement days filled with a constant battle between my conscience telling me to go make art and my bored stomach telling me to go get a Diet Coke or a nicely "preserved" bag of 100 calorie cookies. Sometimes my stomach wins and out come the diet snacks and sometimes my conscience wins and I grab a bag of chemically peeled "fresh" baby carrots......what's a boomer to do? Skinny Bitch

It's too pretty!

2010-08-10T15:17:00.000-04:00

The studio is done! I just can't seem to make myself work in it! I have done my bills up here, watched endless episodes of the Closer, and organized every iota of craft product that I own. I have not yet created anything. And speaking of craft items/ art supplies.....There is nothing like a good effort towards organizing art supplies to make one aware of just how many there are!! Could I possibly have purchased any more STUFF over the years? Good grief! I could begin creating today and (with the exception of gel medium and gesso) continue to do so for the next twenty years without buying another supply! So that's where my teaching income went....................................

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo My husband read this book on our trip to Florida and really loved it!

Hooray! The Studio is up and operational!

2010-08-04T14:14:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited! In an effort to divert my attention from the fact that my little birdie has left the nest, I spent the past four days turning his room into my art studio. I never thought it would possible to have a room dedicated completely to my art things, but it actually happened.

Mixed blessing...I always hoped that Trevor would choose to attend a Med School in Michigan, but the dear child was traumatized by our horrendous winter last year and decided to apply to a school in Ft. Lauderdale. I hate the distance, but I love having a room!

I know, four days and it's done? Yes!! I was like an obsessed woman! I shopped, tugged, hauled, packed, sorted (egads! I have wayyyy too many art supplies), and organized. I worked to the point of exhaustion and ended up tripping over one of the dogs. Four hours in the emergency room to have my gigantic knee based hematoma xrayed, not broken! and then forced myself to rest. The good news is that I didn't cry over my baby nearly as much as I normally would (that will come Sunday when we say goodbye again at the Florida airport) and I have a studio! Now I have to nag my husband to take pictures so that I can post them here. More to come after Florida!

Letting them fly.......

2010-07-30T09:55:00.001-04:00

Okay, this is where the avian kingdom and I disagree. Birds have this time worn little habit of hatching their eggs, raising up their chicks, and then pushing them out of the nest. We romanticize the concept by saying the baby birds are encouraged to spread their wings and fly. Hogwash I say! Maybe home base in birdie world is a little small and consideration has to be given to making room for future additions to the family and maybe mama bird is tired of getting up at the crack of dawn to dig up worms to shove down her kids' throats. In my opinion, however, that only suggests poor planning on the part of the adult bird in building such a small nest. And furthermore, couldn't they put more effort into teaching the young how to collect their own food rather than just kicking them out? The whole system needs to be revamped if you ask me. It wouldn't matter so much how our winged friends conduct their business if the analogy of "letting them spread their wings and fly" wasn't applied to human families with such irritating regularity!

By now you may be wondering what I've had for breakfast and why I'm so hung up on avian behavior. Well, I'll tell you. My baby boy moved to Florida this morning to start medical school and I don't like it one bit! No, I really don't............

Necessity is the mother.......

2010-07-29T10:02:00.000-04:00

I made some clay faces yesterday for the Prayer Boxes I'm creating. When I got up this morning, it was with the intention of painting the faces a coppery/rusty color. Upon closer inspection, I realized that my coppery/rusty paint had dried to a hard rock-like substance during the school year (a problem I have run across more than once). What to do? I can't keep running to the craft store to pick up supplies for a business that has yet to get off the ground! I don't think it's a good thing when receipts for supplies far outweigh sales slips for products sold, is it? Not having much business savvy, I do believe I have the order of things right. Sales should outweigh purchases!

Okay, back to my "face" problem. I know that this isn't a new technique to serious painters, but it's new to me. A couple of years ago, my husband had purchased a set of pigment bottles for me from Dick Blick's catalogue. The pigments are called "Historical Pigment Kit" by Sinopik (it could be Sinopir, there is a big paint blob on the label). I mixed the sienna pigment with the gel medium I was using (by Liquitex) and voila! A beautiful rusty/coppery paint was created for my faces! You can teach an old dog new tricks!

Hugs...................

2010-07-28T16:10:00.000-04:00

I received a really great hug from my son yesterday. He is leaving for college in Florida on Friday and is experiencing some anxiety about the change. My boys are great huggers, but life has turned them into adults who sometimes are too busy to hand them out. As a result, the one I received last night was so very precious! I'll carry it with me while he's gone and revisit it during the long winter months as I miss him terribly......

Here is a little excerpt I found years ago about hugs:

Hugging is good medicine.

It transfers energy and gives the person hugging an emotional boost.

You need four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance and 12 for growth.

A hug makes people feel good because the skin is the largest organ we have and needs a great deal of care.

A hug can cover a lot of skin area and give the message that you care.

The nicest thing about a hug is that you usually can't give one without getting one!

Oldie But Goodie

2010-07-23T17:29:00.000-04:00

I found this poem in a pile of very old memorabilia it still holds true, especially in light of my last post :)

The Person in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
and the world makes you special for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that person has to say.

For it isn't your mother, your father, acquaintances in life
Whose judgement on you must pass.
The person whose verdict counts most in your life
is the one staring back from the glass.

It's the person to please, never mind all the rest
cause that person is with you clear to the end;
And you've passed your most dangerous and difficult test
If the one in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Little Jack Horner and chisel a plum
And say you are great with a sigh,
But the person in the glass says you are a bum
If you can't look that one straight in the eye.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
and get pats on the back as you pass;
But the final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you've cheated the one in the glass. Anonymous

Legacy

2010-07-19T15:07:00.000-04:00

leg·a·cy /ˈlɛgəsi/ Show Spelled [leg-uh-see] Show IPA noun, plural -cies.

1. Law . a gift of property, esp. personal property, as money, by will; a bequest.

2. anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor: the legacy of ancient Rome.

3. an applicant to or student at a school that was attended by his or her parent.

4. Obsolete . the office, function, or commission of a legate.

I've been thinking about the concept of a "legacy" recently. The name of my new business is Legacy Mixed Media and that decision has led me to an exploration of what "legacy" means to me.

When I looked up the definition this morning, I found that there were meanings I hadn't associated with the word such as number four; obsolete or an applicant. The meaning I most closely relate to is the one expressed in number two as high-lighted above.

Being of an age where I and my peer group are beginning to lose loved ones, has sparked a real interest in the totality of life. Let's face it, losing my mother had the effect of smacking me right in the face with my own mortality! What? You mean people actually die? Lots of soul searching following that major event!

So, what type of legacy did my mother leave behind? And more importantly, what legacy will I be leaving behind for my children? Just before passing, I was alone with my mother and had the difficult task of letting her know that time was limited and the cancer was winning the battle. In that moment, my mother kind of went into a zone and began describing her children to some invisible force in the room with us. My mother was a brilliant, hard working, exacting, humorous opinionated individual. She taught her children a love of music, art, and reading. Because of her example, we learned to be self-reliant and independent. We became leaders in our respective fields rather than followers. She set high expectations for those around her and had no qualms about letting people know if they fell short of those expectations. On that difficult day in my mom's hospital room, as she had her conversation with the unknown entity, I learned just how many ways I had failed to live up to what was expected of me. Don't get me wrong, my mom loved me fiercely and would have died to defend me. But did she respect me? I'm not so sure.

Now in terms of a legacy, I guess this story can be looked at in two different ways. We could say that my mom left a legacy of setting high expectations and being brutally honest when those expectations were not. We could also look at the story as a reflection back on me. Perhaps my mother was letting me know in some weird way that the legacy I was forging for my own children was weak and needed to be strengthened. I don't know which scenario is more significant and the fall-out from my mother's observations is a topic for another day.

I do know that there is nothing I can do at this point to change my mother's opinion of me. What I can control and continue to build is the legacy I leave for my own children. What will your legacy be?

Accomplishments........

2010-07-15T13:30:00.000-04:00

My friend Yvonne is getting married in August. I made her invitations and was able to get them off in the mail this morning. This isn't a first wedding and the guest list is small. Yvonne wanted simple but elegant. I think we delivered :)

It always feels good to get a project done and out the door. My need for a linear life is sometimes at odds with my creative side. I currently have a cremains container in process, the invitations, and a baby keepsake box. In addition, I have these cute little canvases I started just because. I'm excited to have commissioned work coming in, I just have to find my rhythm. I have all kinds of ideas in my head, things I'd like to accomplish.......:)

Just who is my peer group?

2010-07-14T21:46:00.000-04:00

I live in what I have always thought of as a fairly average community. Macomb can be characterized by middle class families, nice homes, lots of chain restaurants, and plenty of malls. The traffic is always intense and the stores are always crowded. This remains true even in light of today's economy. Up until this summer, I thought I had a pretty good sense of where I live.

Something has changed, however, I am now looking at my community through the eyes of a retired person. I look at the people I encounter during the day as my peers. After all, we all belong to the club of folks able to hit the malls during the day and sip Starbucks at will. But I'm having a difficult time making it all fit. For one thing, I have noticed that this community is full of senior citizens! Nobody drives over 35 miles per hour during the day and stop signs, red lights, and yield signs are mere suggestions rather than rules. I don't know what happens during rush hour. The folks I am now aware of must scurry back to their homes by 4:00 PM.

As I continue to pursue my new identity as a retired person, I find it difficult to find my place. Being on the young side for retirement, I'm unable to identify with the senior citizens who emerge between the hours of 9:00 and 4:00. I haven't trained myself to slow down yet and when in traffic have to keep repeating the mantra,"you have no schedule to follow!" By the same token, harassed young moms carting around screaming children (and perhaps dreaming of the day when school resumes and they can experience some respite from parenting) seem light years away from my current reality. Is it possible I fall somewhere in between?

I'm sure the answer will present itself over time. When I start to fill my purse with sugar packets from the restaurant, or demand my free coffee from McDonald's,I'll know which direction I'm heading in. Although, I do find myself talking to random strangers at Target these days.............

Vignettes......

2010-07-12T12:00:00.001-04:00

I'm crazy about vignettes! I love to move things around in my home to create little inspirational scenes. Living with three males, I sometimes wonder if they even notice the little scenarios I try to create. I often have to say, "hey, what do you think about the way I placed those items?" I then get the "huh?" look and a generic, "very nice!" It's okay, I don't necessarily do it for them. To be honest, I really do it for myself!

I have to admit, that the lack of estrogen in my immediate environment is something that I will have to learn to deal with. My life has always had a nice balance. As an elementary teacher, I was generally surrounded by female adults every day. I was then able to come home and embrace the testosterone filled household I live in. Though my guys are all very supportive of my artistic pursuits, and are great about bringing me things to work with, one needs the company of females too! Retirement has definitely created an imbalance. Must seek out female companionship! It would be great if some of those females had an interest in the creative pursuits of life....just saying :)

One of those testosterone filled males brought me an old wood frame he found in a convenience store parking lot. He said he knew it was something I would like. The frame sat on my porch for a couple of months until one day I looked at it and thought, hmmmmm, I know what to do with that! And thus, another vignette was born.......

Hooray!!

2010-07-10T23:15:00.002-04:00

My Etsy shop is now up and running! http://www.etsy.com/search_results_seller.php?search_query=legacymixedmedia&search_type=seller_usernames Wow, that was a ton of work but well worth the effort. The next task is to get the website up and running. I definitely need technical assistance with that project. The Etsy site nearly did me in.

I am completely being pushed out of my comfort zone with all of this techno stuff but that's the stuff that new brain cells are made of, right? I can certainly stand some new dendrites :)

Our friend, Kim, owner and operator of the great People's Pierogi Collective down at Eastern Market in Detroit has promised to come to my rescue with the website. Check out her cool website at www.peoplespierogi.com. If you live in the Detroit area, you have got to go down to taste her awesome pierogies on Saturday mornings. Yummm........

Different styles......

2010-07-09T11:25:00.000-04:00

My son is very creative. He doesn't spend much time drawing and he doesn't engage in other typical art mediums. My son enjoys working with his hands. He likes to build things and he likes to design things. He is able to visualize a finished product simply by looking at the raw materials. I can't do that! I truly believe that mixed media and collage are the perfect categories for me because I can just jump into the fray without any idea of how things will turn out. I don't like to measure or follow patterns.

Example: I immediately began to crochet an afghan three weeks ago on the day I retired. It seemed like the thing to do. As is my way, I didn't buy a pattern and I didn't measure. One evening, after I had been madly crocheting for several days, my son asked me how big the afghan was going to be. I said I had no clue and he then insisted on measuring what I had completed thus far. The afghan was 14 feet wide! Needless to say, my family has given me nothing but warm hearted grief over my monster afghan.

My son measures and thinks things through when he builds something. I recently asked him to build an elevated vegetable planter for the side of my house (the only patch of sun in my entire yard). Within three hours, I had the most beautiful, perfect planter imaginable. I'm so proud of him. He's talented, loving, generous and accurate! And you know what else? He wants my monster afghan when it's completed because he appreciates my lack of planning........

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks........

2010-07-07T21:54:00.001-04:00

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Technology! It only took me the entire day, but I finally got an Etsy Shop set up. I'm sure that someone with more tech savvy could have done it in a quarter of the time. Anyway, it's done and it looks pretty cute :) Now, I have to measure my pieces and load them into the shop. That will take a couple of days. After that, I figure out how to link everything to Facebook, Blogger, and my new Website. The website.........oh dear heavens..that will take me a month of Sundays to figure out! One step at a time, right? Here is the cute banner that my hubby designed for the Etsy Shop:

Time for a break.....

2010-07-04T14:56:00.000-04:00

The Fourth of July....time to take a break from setting up the business and enjoy family and friends. I love having the family over and we only have three weeks left with Trevor before he moves to Florida. Just one more big change in my life this summer!

As someone who reacts poorly to change, I have certainly assembled a number of them all at once....... I've heard all of the inspirational sayings: change is good, embrace change as it is the stuff life is made of, without change we can't grow or move forward blah, blah, blah! I still find the concept scary, overwhelming in some cases, and darn nerve wracking. That doesn't mean I don't meet changes head-on, after all, that's why God invented antacids, right? Happy Fourth everyone, may you be surrounded by the warmth of loved ones :)

The adventure continues....

2010-07-03T20:50:00.000-04:00

I registered my business name as a domain today! I have no idea how to design a website, but this is a first step. I couldn't believe my luck in that nobody else had used Legacy Mixed Media for their website. I hope to include a variety of interests on my website including tutorials, completed art to purchase, links to other artists, and helpful hints for encouraging budding artists to follow their muse. If all goes well, I will link the site to my Etsy Shop to make materials available. This is quite a reach for this 54 year old non-techy gal! However, now that I'm retired, I have all the time in the world to figure it out!

Hesitations................

2010-06-26T16:19:00.000-04:00

As a college freshman, I wanted to major in art. I took several art classes at the local community college and loved everything I was exposed to. After two years, it was time for me to transfer to a four year university. That was when my mom informed me that I would never be able to support myself through my art and should therefore choose a major that would allow me to earn a decent living. She wasn't trying to be hurtful, she just wanted to ensure my ability to be independent. My mom was one of the original bra burners on our block, working full time when all the other moms were baking cookies and playing with various hair dyes. She never wanted me to become dependent on a man to survive. I took her advice to heart and transferred to a field that eventually led me to teaching. Mom died three years ago and I have retired from teaching.

Thirty-two years later, I am venturing out into the world of art to see what I can do. I registered my business with the county on Thursday and made it official. Legacy Mixed Media is now a reality. I know that I am not the first human to be plagued with self-doubt based on comments made by well-meaning parents in our past. I keep hearing mom's voice asking "how are you going to support yourself?" Still working on an answer to that question. The good news Mom, is that I have a pension, the more important news is that I have to try...as soon as I get those voices to quiet down .....:)

Before Mugs....

2010-06-23T16:35:00.000-04:00

I made this little bird out of air dry clay, vintage text, and rusted wire. I loved him! He looked so cute sitting on my windowsill. I use the past tense of "look" because he now has no head. My demon rescue puppy, Mugsy, climbed onto the counter top and pulled my little bird off of the sill above the sink. He then proceeded to eat the bird's head. Ironically, a few days later, Mugs brought in a baby bird from the yard. The bird was no longer breathing. We sincerely hope that happened before Mugs found him. I have now lost a total of six art projects to my little guy. I could be bitter, but he's so adorable that I prefer to think that Mugsy is simply appreciating my work in the only way he knows how....by eating it :)

Changes...............

2010-06-22T19:29:00.000-04:00

April 17th! That was the last time I posted on this blog! So much has changed in that time. My youngest graduated from U of M (he's heading to school in Florida in August), my oldest has found a career he enjoys apprenticing with a finish carpenter, and I have retired from teaching! Difficult economic times have forced our districts and legislators in Michigan to take measures to "encourage" older teachers to retire as a cost saving effort. I'm only 54 and had not thought to retire for another couple of years. Work has been stressful though and I decided to take a leap of faith. I have always wanted to do something "different" with my life. I've wanted to explore my creative side by taking classes, working on my craft without being tethered by teaching demands, and truely finding myself as an artist. I have to confess, it's scarey as hell! I have never before leapt without a net. I always knew what I needed to do next as a professional. I'm excited and terrified...I will keep you all posted :)

Blackbird singing in the dead of night...........

2010-04-17T20:44:00.004-04:00

There is an old amusement park up on Van Dyke in Utica. To my knowledge, it's been closed for a very long time. I remember bringing my girlfriend's daughter there when she was around four years old. That was over 30 years ago. At the time, the park was fairly run down. I'm not sure when it closed down, but I'm always surprised to see the sign in place and the property undeveloped all these years later. The equipment is rusted and tangled succumbing to the damage brought about by Michigan winters. There is something haunting and lonely about a broken distressed carousal . Is it possible that on a bright moonlit night, when no one is looking, blackbirds take a spin on the eerily beautiful magical ride of so many yesterdays?

2010-04-12T18:57:00.000-04:00

And of course, baby birds!!

2010-04-12T18:53:00.002-04:00

Here is another of my silly birds!

"Cheep" Thrills

2010-04-10T20:13:00.003-04:00

Okay, maybe it's the sunshine, maybe it's the warm air, maybe it's the flowering trees...not sure...only know that when Spring finally comes to Michigan, my thoughts turn to birds, nests, and eggs. I know what you're thinking, we just celebrated Easter Patti, of course you've been thinking about eggs! True, but I actually started thinking about birds well before Easter.

Each Spring, I tend to think about birds. My art begins to reflect those thoughts and I have to get it out of my system before I can move on to other projects. I think birds represent more than Easter basket "peeps" to me. I think they represent rebirth, starting anew, second chances....Isn't that what spring is? Each year we get a whole new set of opportunities, sort of like a clean slat washed clean by the rains and melting snow. The birds reappear (after summering south), build new nests, and lay their eggs. It's as though through that simple act of procreating, they send us a message of hope and possibilities for the coming days.

Though I've made a variety of bird projects over the years, this year my birds took a decidedly comical turn. I've come to think of them as my "goofy ass looking birds". I'm thrilled with the way they've turned out .............

2010-03-07T19:33:00.002-05:00

My husband is multi-faceted in his creative talents.. He is a documentary film maker, a writer, an outstanding editor, and a photographer. He reently had three photos accepted in a local gallery showing. He's very talented. He is responsible for all of my blog posting photos. Way to go Michael!!

These photos were taken one very frosty Michigan morning. Michael went to a local park to find beauty while I laid in bed complaining about the cold!

This photo was published in Stampington and Company's Life Images magazine last year!

more.........

2010-03-06T13:46:00.005-05:00

Here is the farm house in color!

More pictures of Auntie Em's farm! I love the popsicle stick shingles Veronica created. They look so authentic. The wood of the farmhouse is worn and fits the era of farmers depicted in the movie.

Dorothy is wondering where Toto went :)

Off to See the Wizard!

2010-03-06T13:09:00.006-05:00

Yea!! Another successful art swap with my friend from Virginia Beach! Veronica and I met online when she discovered my blog. We have been swapping art for almost a year now. We started with ATC cards and have just completed our first mixed media piece. We take turns choosing a theme. This time was Veronica's turn and she chose favorite movies. The twist was, that we would create a piece for each other's favorite movie rather than our own. Veronica's favorite movie is "Breakfast at Tiffany's". I created a piece for her based on that theme. I will post pictures of my work in my next posting. One of my favorite movies is "The Wizard of Oz". Veronica created this really fun piece depicting the tornado that initially takes Dorothy to the Land of Oz! There is so much movement and energy in this piece that I feel as though it's going to take off from my mantel (where it is proudly displayed) at any time! My husband is a wiz (no pun intended ) with Photoshop and I asked him to help me convey that energy in a photo. Well, he came through as usual! I have included two versions of the photo of my amazing house from Kansas. One is in black and white with some color shining through (because as everyone knows Dorothy does not experience color until she reaches Oz) and one in color. I love how Michael made it look as though the assemblage is actually caught up in a twister and I love the work that Veronica did to send me such a wonderful representation of my favorite movie. Has anyone seen Toto?............

Poked and Prodded

2010-02-28T18:27:00.004-05:00

In the last few months, I have found myself becoming too familiar with our health care system. As stated earlier, all of it was a result of my self neglect. The upside of all of this is that I am trying to take better care of myself. My motivation is two fold. I, naturally, want to live a long life, meet my future granchildren, grow old with my husband, and keep my loved ones from having to deal with an invalid. In addition though, I do not want to deal with the myriad tests, humiliations, pain, and loss of control that spending time in a hospital can bring. Though the health care professionals were all just that, professionals, the feeling of anonymity is unavoidable. I know how hard working doctors, nurses, and lab techs are and I don't suggest they are unfeeling or lacking in compassion. But, I know that even in my field, I have to keep reminding myself that my students are feeling, vulnerable beings and not simply a product of my work place. Ironically, my own son is beginning medical school in the fall. My recent experiences have prompted me to remind him that he will be dealing with human beings and that he should never lose sight of the fear and anxiety we all experieince when undergoing medical procedures. This assemblage was a direct result of my coming home from the hospital feeling very poked and prodded:)..............

Alive and Feeling it Here in Michigan!

2010-02-21T11:04:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow I begin a new year. It's my birthday and I am turning 54 years old! The number surprised me as I spent the last year thinking I was 52. When I commented to my husband last week that I couldn't believe I was turning 53 he said, "I hate to tell you this, but you've been 53 for a whole year"! Wow, I guess it wasn't too painful then was it? :) It is true what they say, as I get older, I begin to feel more comfortable in my old skin. I begin to care less about what others think and more about what is important to me. I also, sorry to say, sometimes forget to put all of those filters into place when dealing with others. I remember thinking that mom was so embarrassing when the older she got she began to say exactly what was on her mind to others. Now, I find myself doing the same thing. Life is too short to beat around the bush!

I've had to face some hard truths about myself this past year. I've had to learn to deal with the consequences of my actions when it comes to my health. Years of yo yo dieting have resulted in major health issues. Years of taking our weekly income for granted have resulted in financial difficulties as our state falls into an economic crisis. And, years of trying to bend my son's will to mine have resulted in his inability to move forward with his life without worrying about what I think.

Well, another year older, another year wiser. I monitor my eating very closely (loss of 24 lbs. thus far). I monitor my blood sugar and get extremely regular breast exams. I've learned to appreciate the income we have and am making efforts to get out from under unnecessary debt. And, I've tried very hard to convey to my son how much we love him and how very proud we are of the man he has become. We are thrilled to see him tackle a path that works for him and makes him happy in the process. We love his girlfriend and hope to welcome her to our family someday.

It's not all perfect, I have lots of growing and changing to do. But today, on the eve of my new birthday, I feel good. And that's what it's all about right? One day at a time...........

Michigan Annual Art Exhibit

2010-01-22T20:36:00.002-05:00

I was truly humbled to be in the company of such beautiful art work! There is a wide variety

of mediums including mixed media, assemblage, digital art, sculpture, watercolor, oil, photography, and clay. Each piece was original and thought provoking. People said very nice things about my piece and there was a decent amount of interest.

Pet peeve: two ladies were enjoying looking at my work and in the process set a cup full of red fruit punch right on the pedestal with my ladies! One of them then proceeded to man-handle my work! Seriously?? Maybe they thought they had gone to the hands-on museum rather than an art gallery :)

2010-01-20T18:57:00.001-05:00

Beauty Denied: The Trio

2010-01-20T18:30:00.006-05:00

I'm so pleased to announce that the Trio "Beauty Denied" has been accepted by the Michigan Annual 36 Art Exhibit in Mt. Clemens. It's an honor to be a part of a show that is being judged by Charles McGee. I have always admired his work.

Bruised, Battered, Beaten....

2010-01-16T14:31:00.002-05:00

That's how this week ended up feeling. Wow! Don't we all start each work week with the determination to do our best, give it our all, and emerge triumphant by Friday afternoon? How often does that scenario work out? Not often is my experience. By the end of the week, I've usually lost sight of previous goals and forgotten good intentions. That results in waking up on Saturday morning thinking, "crap, just what did I accomplish this week?"If I'm the only one this happens to, then I really am in need of a little self-respect..........

Waiting for Inspiration............

2010-01-04T18:10:00.002-05:00

I've been so artistically blocked over the past few weeks (eight weeks to be exact) and it has been extremely frustrating. I couldn't make myself pull things out to make art! (another good reason for my husband to build me a studio) I felt particularly bad because I'm in a monthly ATC exchange with my friend Veronica. Guilt led to blockage which led to more guilt which led to frustration!

I was finally able to make myself sit at the art table (otherwise known as my kitchen table) right after Christmas. I pulled everything out and then sat to wait for inspiration. And sat, and sat...

Then I remembered something that had helped me in the past. I have found that the trick to eliminating roadblocks, whether it be artistic blocks, problem solving blocks or anything else life may throw at you is to go back to what is familiar and comfortable.

I began my artistic journey drawing silly little cartoon-like characters (mostly males). I eventually moved away from that avenue and pursued other types of mediums. Last week, I started to fool around with one of my little characters named Stanley. I had so much fun revisiting him that it served to break my block, inspire my muse, and bring a smile back to my face! Thank you Stanley, thanks for the inspiration.......

A New Beginning..........

2009-12-30T19:35:00.001-05:00

The weather outside is frightful but my fire is soooo delightful! I love being off of work!

Combining Collage and Fabric Art

2009-12-27T15:10:00.002-05:00

My creative endeavors this past summer involved trying to combine fabric art with my usual collage materials. I was inspired by the work exhibited in Stampington's "Sew" magazine as well as projects shown in Cloth Paper Scissors. I haven't been entirely happy with the results. It's frustrating because I really enjoy working with the fabrics, the layers, and the different textures. I love the translucency of some of the fabrics and the versatility of cheesecloth (scrim). My comfort zone, however, lies with paper, paint, metal, wood, nails, and glue. I thought the perfect solution would be to combine the two. Something seems to be off though. I'll keep trying, but subsequent attempts will most likely take place next summer. For now, I'll stick with my comfort zone. Besides, I got a Dremel Drill with attachments for Christmas!!

Happy New Years...please

2009-12-26T17:17:00.002-05:00

The year 2009 was a difficult year for my community, my friends, my family, and for me. Do we have boundless blessings that are not afforded to many others in the world? yes, of course...could things have been worse? always..... Everything is relative, right? From our perspective, things were really tough this year. I sincerely hope, for all our sakes, that the coming year is calmer, healthier, more peaceful, more optimistic, and filled with a modicum of hope for the future. Happy New Year Everyone!

2009-12-21T11:49:00.002-05:00

Happy Holidays Everyone!! Here is the last installment from our 2009 Collaborative calendar. I hope you've enjoyed the images. Have a wonderful time with family and friends as we close out this year...Patti :)

Really???

2009-11-21T19:28:00.002-05:00

I've been gone a long time! This always happens when I return to work. I'm just too tired at the end of the day to think about art. As a result, I get really stressed out. I need the calm and serenity that art brings me.

I woke up this morning determined to get some of my Christmas projects out of the way. As I covered my work/ kitchen table with glitter, I realized that it feels as though it was just a few weeks ago when I blogged about glitter! How did the year go so quickly?!

Glitter represents family and brightness and anticipation of good things to come. Though it doesn't usually make an appearance in my art the rest of the year, the child in me enjoys the annual journey into little bits of glass and light. It makes me feel better to have it out.

The year seems to be rushing towards a conclusion. Maybe the fates are just as anxious for a new beginning as we are. The year 2009 was tough here in Michigan. Maybe the key is to keep the glitter out on the kitchen table throughout the year.......hummmmm, it does have its possibilities..........

November

2009-11-06T20:26:00.004-05:00

My husband took this picture last winter at a park near our home. The original photo was published in Stampington & Co.'s Life Images magazine last year. It then became a part of our collaborative calendar when I added the image of a little boy peeking from behind the tree. I think the photo of the boy has a ethereal quality that is reminiscent of fairies, sprites, and maybe even tiny spirits. It's my favorite of all of the calendar pages. When living in Michigan, one looks for pops of color in the endless winter :)

Inspire Me Thursday: Wings

2009-10-21T20:46:00.003-04:00

"I'm Still Standing" created in 2007 with recycled doll parts, vintage fuel gauge, paperclips, Mica, ball chain, rubber stamps, and old rusty metal :)

Survive

2009-10-21T20:09:00.002-04:00

Most items related to breast cancer have the word "hope" associated with them. When my mother was first diagnosed, I made an assemblage that I called "Hope". The hope was unfounded in her case and I began to feel as though the word might be too tentative, too dainty. I don't want to rely on hope alone; I want to Survive. The word feels stronger, more determined, more of a command. We have to be warriors in the fight against cancer.

All of this came to me while creating the above piece. I was feeling fiesty that day :)

Mixed media assemblage with vintage bible text, antique Mica, cancelled flemish stamps, black gesso, rubber stamps, and canvas.

October Thoughts

2009-10-11T19:33:00.005-04:00

My first encounter with breast cancer was on September 30 of 2000. For the first time, I understood the phrase "paralyzed with fear". I was home alone and received a phone call from my doctor informing me that I had a tumor in my breast. I remember sitting at the table for a very long time after that call just staring into space. I didn't know how to feel or how to respond. I didn't know how to tell my family. I started with my mother who immediately expressed the thought that if I had been more careful about my weight, I would not have received that type of phone call. From there I moved to my husband (should have started there) whose obvious fear served to both make me feel very loved and to scare the bejeebers out of me. We then decided to only tell my boys as much as they needed to know at the time.

I knew that my grandmother had died of stomach cancer and had always heard that the disease sometimes skipped a generation. I had convinced myself, however, that I and the other members of my family would live forever. Being faced with a potentially fatal disease can be a rude awakening. It is a defining moment in one's life to realize that your time on earth is finite and completely unpredictable.

The tumor turned out to be benign and life went on . I found myself to be a little more serious, a little more cautious, and sadly a little more grown up. Seven years later, my mother was diagnosed with second hand smoke lung cancer. Once more the ugly, vile word had entered my life. Mom fought bravely and died six months later. Once more I moved on feeling even more vulnerable and a lot more grown up. Nothing like the loss of a parent to force you to face your own mortality.

Fast forward to 2009. This time, I received a voice mail message, "doctor would like you to see a surgeon". Biopsies, surgery, bi-annual exams, and now a five year regimen of cancer fighting medication. "Tumor benign but precancerous cells present", I've dodged a bullet again, but have reached a point of feeling fear every time I hear the dreaded "c" word on the radio or see it in print. Suddenly people all around me are being tested, diagnosed, operated on. It's become unavoidable.

I realize, that with the exception of my mother's fate, my story is a (pardon the pun) benign one. I can't imagine the fear factor when the diagnosis is malignant. I conduct a fund raiser in my building every year to support research. I buy pink ribbons at the grocery store and purchase all of the pink ribbon products I can find. I urge everyone to do what they can during October and throughout the year. We have to find a way to beat this hideous disease. Join me in praying for breast cancer victims and survivors everywhere. Thank you.....

The above pages are from a journal entry I produced in 2000 while waiting for the results of my first tumor...

2009-10-09T16:40:00.002-04:00

The latest ATC swap theme was Halloween. I know that my swap partner, Veronica, loves Halloween so I went a little crazy and decided to mail my canvas to her in a handmade miniature coffin. I had a lot of fun creating the coffin! Using cardboard, tissue paper, distress ink, crackle paint, and vintage text I was able to create the top and bottom. The hinges were fashioned out of black ribbon. One of my favorite things to come out of my kitchen table studio this year.....:)

Masked

2009-10-04T18:38:00.002-04:00

The Ultimate Mask was accepted into the Blood Bath City annual art show at the Anton Art Center! Hooray!

Inspire Me Thursday: The Crash

2009-10-03T20:48:00.002-04:00

What a wild and crazy ride it's been trying to keep up with the economy! Businesses going under, companies in the tank, CEOs getting indicted, unions being busted, homes going into foreclosure, dreams being put on hold. We can rage, cry, laugh, or dance our way through it. Maybe all of the above?

The theme for Inspire Me Thursday this week is "newspapers". The Crash is collage on heavy watercolor paper with rubber stamps, ink, and vintage papers.

Anatomy

2009-09-30T18:34:00.003-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about anatomy lately.

Halloween projects have caused me to explore the human skull and the submission for The Anton Art Centre show led me to thinking about the truth we hold inside. My youngest son is in premed at the University of Michigan (have I told you how proud I am of him?) and is currently taking a bio anatomy class. In a recent phone call, he described a dissection that involved a female leg, toenail polish and all! He loves exploring the human body and is fascinated by its inner workings.

On top of all of this, I watched the TV show Numbers last night where Rob Morrow described himself as a bag of bone and tissue. He was lamenting the loss of his feeling of invincibility following a gun shot wound. So, what are we? A fascinating complex organism both tough in its endurance and vulnerable in its fragility? Or, are we simply a bag of bones? Most likely a very interesting combination of both. Here's to anatomy!

October Sneaky Pete

2009-09-28T19:58:00.002-04:00

Look! The little thief has gutted our pumpkin!

We had so much fun watching the squirrels dig out our pumpkins last Fall. Instead of putting our various gourds (I like a lot of pumpkins) out with the trash after Halloween, we placed them in the backyard and watched as the neighborhood squirrels had themselves a Thanksgiving sized banquet large enough to last them through the long cold Michigan winter.

My husband took lots of pictures and we included this one in our 2009 calendar collaboration. The vintage sisters looking on from one of my favorite windows look absolutely delighted with the scene in front of them.......:)

The Ultimate Mask: The Human Face

2009-09-26T12:39:00.003-04:00

I recently completed an entry for the Anton Art Centre's fall exhibit. The theme was "mask". I tried to come up with a clever mask to create but didn't feel inspired by Mardi Gras or Halloween type masks.

I'm not sure if difficulties at work may have led me down this path (I've stopped questioning why or where inspiration is leading me) but ultimately, I couldn't think of a more effective mask than the human face. From there, things just began to fall in to place.

The dapper gentleman is my grandfather and the stern looking lady is an adopted relative. They are out for a stroll with their true selves and have brought along their public faces just in case the occasion arises which would require false charity. This collage is dedicated to my friend Veronica who has proven herself to be a Halloween Goddess in the ATC world!

My Prayer Box

2009-09-23T19:10:00.008-04:00

There once was a little house built with love and filled with prayers. Each prayer was carefully

printed on encaustic parchment and packed with reverence and faith. This is a house built on hope and optimism. Welcome!

Someone I know is in dire need of prayer. I gladly offer mine up for her and her family. It seems as though every time I think things are tough in my own life, I hear about someone else's burdens and feel ashamed for my grousing. It isn't that I doubt my right to feel what I feel, it's just that other people's problems can sometimes make mine seem less significant.

Inspire Me Thursday

2009-09-21T22:30:00.003-04:00

Plaid!! Plaid tidings from my heart to yours! What if our hearts were secretly plaid? And what if each section of the plaid were a secret chamber? And what if we were able to keep all of our deepest darkest secrets in each of those chambers? Well I think that would just be plaidtastic!

Mixed Media Collage: vintage papers, anatomical clip art, gesso, wire

The Circus is Back in Town!

2009-09-16T19:19:00.003-04:00

All I can say is, thank goodness I had such a steady stream of inspiration this summer! I am now back in the, "I'm too tired to do anything but come home and collapse" mode. I'm either bringing school work home or sitting on the couch like a lump staring into space every night. It always happens this way at the beginning of the school year. I am pulled in so many directions all day long that I feel as though I never get anything done.

I know that the teachers working directly with kids right now are equally exhausted, but I never realized until I moved to the office just how mentally exhausting working with adults and doing paperwork can be too.

In two weeks, I will begin working with my students again. I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, once my body and brain adjust to the circus being back in town, I 'll have some energy left at the end of the day to do something creative..........

This assemblage is titled "On Entertaining Clowns" because after all, clowns need a little magic in their lives too, don't they?

Favorite Movie Quote

2009-09-14T20:34:00.005-04:00

My friend Veronica sent me this wonderful ATC as part of our "Favorite Movie Quotes" swap. I love her glammy, glitzy style. This quote is from the movie, "Ghost". Our next swap theme is "Halloween". I had a sneak peek at her contribution on her blog, http://artbyveronica.blogspot.com/, and I can't wait to see it in person :)

Inspire Me Thursday Challenge

2009-09-13T20:12:00.002-04:00

I did this "Gal Pals" collage several years ago and had it framed for our living room. We attempted to scan it through the frame, and I'm not crazy about the outcome. It seems that everything I scan through my scanner lately ends up with a blue cast. Frustration!

I created this background with a number of chalk ink colors, oil pastels, vintage photos, and stickers. The embedded text describes the ups and downs of relationships between women.

I like my "Gal Pals", I wish you could see it in all its glory :)

Hearts! Hearts! Hearts!

2009-09-12T10:55:00.008-04:00

“Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts.” Albert Einstein

My exploration of the human heart continues as I work through my grief. This quote by Albert Einstein strikes a cord. It makes me think about idealism, political posturing, fanaticism, basically folks jumping on band wagons without examining what may lie in their own hearts. I think this is especially true today when people are so busy and pulled in so many different directions just trying to get through the business of life. It's easier to let others sway us with their opinions than to take the time to understand the issues ourselves and then make conscious, informed, heartfelt decisions. We need to slow down. It's too important that we try to "see things with (our) own eyes, and feel things with (our) own hearts........."

The heart above was created by my mother-in-law . Thank you!