So I'm a Saint.....

No, I'm not. Far from it.

But here's what happened---

We had all the kids and most of their "significant others" over on Thanksgiving; what better time for a family portrait?
Do you have any idea how difficult (and frustrating) it is to organize 10 unruly folk and get them to all be still and smile at the same time?!
Let me just say that we did NOT get the portrait.


The closest thing to it was a shot of all the kids and their girlfriends/boyfriend, with me sitting in front of them. THEY all looked great; I, however, was sitting there with my hands clasped in my lap and my eyes rolled up toward Heaven----reminiscent of all those Renaissance Madonnas from my college art history course (oh dear!).

After a long hard day, I decided to have a little fun at my own expense---

AND It's On!

After so many days of sitting here and staring, sighing forlornly, tempted to title my post "AND I Got NOTHING"....
I am back to the land of the living, and ready to share!

I could make a number of excuses for not being creative, for not posting over the past week, all of them legitimate ----comforting my husband through illness and a hospital visit, comforting a dear friend through not one but TWO traumatic experiences, teaching the Boy and his girlfriend how to make chocolate covered cherries, then pie crusts, the busy-ness of the holiday, pulling together a Thanksgiving feast without being still enough to BE thankful, but we'll just leave it there and get on with it. Though too busy to even think, I was where I was supposed to be, being friend, mom, lover and nursemaid.

But today, it's on....
Well, I'm doing my best to ease into being ON....listening to Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters' Christmas cd (one of my all-time favorite holiday listens) and sorting through discs of Christmas pictures to post here. The kids are at their dad's for the weekend; the Canadian is upstairs, hopefully scouring the attic for decorations; the dogs are lounging on the window seat watching squirrels---it's quiet. And yet, I don't quite feel like being Santa's elf today.

The "crafty family Christmas" article in the local paper came out yesterday.
Have a read; it came out quite nicely. It also features my friend Teresa of Maggie Grace World.

In it I was asked about any family Christmas craft traditions---one of our favorites is the gingerbread house, which is mentioned in the article, but WITHOUT the infamous punchline.
Care to hear the WHOLE story?

I'd always wanted to build a gingerbread house, but I had plenty of excuses--too many little hands, not enough space, not enough money...but the REAL excuse was that I knew how I'd handle it---I'd take it FAR too seriously, and spend HOURS laboring over it, oblivious to anything else around me.

And yep, when I finally decided to do it, that's exactly what I did....went above and beyond....designed my own pattern, tested it out in posterboard before cutting and baking, perfected the dough, bought every kind of candy I thought the perfect gingerbread house might need, even went all Martha Stewart and cut out the windows in the dough and filled them with crushed hard-candy to melt into stained glass windows. Of course one would need lighting inside to make the most of those exquisite stained glass windows, right?

We'd just tested all of our strands of lights before putting up our tree, and we had a couple of strands left over. I carefully coiled up a strand on the tray I would be building the house on, then proceeded to construct the house over the lights, making sure to leave an opening for the cord and enough length to reach an outlet.

It was dinner time (DINNER time?! Ooops! How'd that happen?!) when I stepped away to admire my creation.
I had just created the gaudiest monstrosity of a gingerbread house you could imagine!
And now for my moment of glory.....
I plugged the lights in......

WHERE did those FLASHING lights come from?!!! We didn't have any flashing lights when we tested the strands!!!?
The look of horror on my husband's face said it all, but it was soon followed by "Oh my. A gingerbread whorehouse".

Sixteen years later, and I have YET to live that one down.
Somewhere there are pictures; if I find them, I'll post them. I'm not ashamed; I've come a long way since that day.

Needless to say, my gingerbread houses since that Christmas have been, well, let's say a lot more thought and planning have gone into them.





As the kids have gotten older, they've participated more each year, first getting their own small houses to decorate, and eventually being allowed to contribute more to the building of our main house.
As much as they enjoy the creation of our houses, I'm afraid that the kids find the act of demolition much more satisfying.....

finding new and creative ways to destroy the structure, playing with the pieces of stale gingerbread, picking off their favorite candies, flinging rock hard bits of royal icing at each other.... GREAT family fun on Christmas morning!


Last year, we brought my young nephew into the fray. He thoroughly enjoyed himself, building a chimney that rivaled the size of his house and later smashing his creation with a hammer along with us.

What artsy/craftsy Christmas traditions does your family share?
Care to share them with us?

Now if you'll excuse me, the Canadian and I are about to embark on another tradition.....
getting the tree up and ready to decorate when the kids get home---lots of hot chocolate (even if it is 65 degrees here!) and longstanding holiday favorites on the stereo.
Starting to feel it now! IT'S ON!

Art Every Day---DAY 18

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I've been feeling that old familiar itch to sew.
If I don't deal with it now, it'll take over all my thoughts completely and prevent me from accomplishing anything else until I create something for myself.
Meredith advised me to just do it...Just go ahead and make something wonderful for myself, and free myself up for all the holiday creations. Probably a brilliant idea Meredith!

Over the past year, my body has become a pretty accurate barometer. Since there was rain moving in, I didn't accomplish a great deal, and likely won't again until it moves back out. But I did do some creative thinking and some planning.

I'd already decided on a pattern... a flow-y peasant-style dress and a vest.
And I did mention how attracted I am to the fabric I've been painting on.....
It's far too stiff to make clothing from, but I had an idea, so I started rummaging.
I found just enough of some lovely purple linen (these photos are WAY off; each photo is a different color, neither of them right...it's a deep, delicious, juicy purple) that would make a great dress.

Now why couldn't I cut some little circles out of my canvas and applique them around the bottom of my dress?
For Halloween I made myself an orange dress and appliqued little handpainted spooky silhouettes around the bottom to dress it up.
What a fun idea! I was likely going to have to paint more of that canvas anyway....

Now that idea lit my fire!
I remembered that I'd tucked away an old black wool blazer that I'd felted. I cut the sleeves off, decided I couldn't use it as is and would have to cut a vest from it.
Not sure if I want to leave the collar on it.
If I'm feeling really ambitious, I could even trim it with the painted canvas. Might be a bit much though; what do you think?

What Do I Wish to Embrace?

the view from my hammock on a fall afternoon

As I lay awake at 4 am this morning, I was composing today's post in my head...so I was REALLY wishing that today's wishcasting had something to do with "letting go".
But alas, today Jamie asks "what do you wish to embrace?"
Ironic, wouldn't you say?

Based on what I had going on in my head, it wasn't hard to turn that around and find the answer to that question.
I wish to embrace what is.... who I really am, what I'm meant to do here, as well as all that's going on in my life.
I'm learning more each day about who I really am and what I'm supposed to be doing, but the rest of it....frankly, it's hard.

For so many years I have actually been either running away from, or battling my physical ailments, when what I need to do is learn to accept them as part of me, to embrace them, and learn from them, maybe even learn to love that part of myself.

I need to accept that my husband can't find a job, and that his own creative endeavors haven't started to pay off for him the way he'd hoped just yet.

I need to accept that things just haven't turned out the way I had hoped, in many areas of my life.

I wish to embrace all of these things, and more....embrace what IS, and who I am.

Art Every Day---DAY 17

As much fun as those journals were to create, I am glad that they're behind me and being loved by those they were created for.

Now it's time to focus on Christmas gifts!
We traditionally create most of our family's gifts, but this year's circumstances dictate that we make as many of our gifts as possible. Fortunately most of the recipients appreciate handmade!

I was just interviewed by a writer from the Athens paper yesterday about "artsy/craftsy Christmases", or How an Artist and Her Family Enjoy Christmas. We've been making ornaments since the first three kids were just toddlers, and have now for many years aspired to gingerbread house building. I'll share some photos (and hilarious stories) later on in the season.

Though I need to make gifts and work on that mural that is waiting, my heart wants to sew....
I feel a strong pull to create something just for me. And of course, my body is screaming "are you crazy???"
We'll see what happens....

But for now, for Art Every Day, here is Phase 3 of the secret Christmas project


I think I liked it more with just the black stamping; what do you think?
I'm also thinking I might enjoy making something to wear from this, painted on a softer fabric, of course.
Ahh well....the next phase of this project involves cutting and sewing, so maybe I'll get my sewing fix there.....hmmmm......We'll see, we'll see.

Art Every Day Month---DAYS 14, 15, 16

Except for finishing up the 2nd birthday art journal, I didn't DO a lot of art, but I did PARTICIPATE in a whole lot of creativity over the weekend!

Saturday was the big day here for the Madison County Artist Market. After trying to straighten up the house for the kids' Sunday visit, I spent the afternoon appreciating all the local art, visiting with artist friends, and hanging out with my friend Teresa, the Queen of up-cycling, who had a booth there.

The kids came yesterday and the Girl and I presented Art History Major with her journal.
Dinner was uncomfortable; she had an 8 page paper in her landscape class due today (that she hadn't even started), so she wasn't the best company and she hurt our feelings. But I just got a text message that said "sorry I was such a bitch yesterday...I do love the journal"
Awww..... I'm so grateful my children know how to apologize!

This is how her book turned out---

notice the little map of Italy, especially for the Art History Major :)

Art Every Day---DAY 13

The Girl, helping me cover a canvas for the mysterious "next project"

We're almost halfway through the month, and for a minute there, I lost some steam.
I was starting to question my motives (never mind my sanity) for working so hard to participate in Art Every Day month, starting to wonder if maybe I was becoming too driven, working too hard to gain the notice and praise of the other artists participating.

I was grateful to be reminded of why by Miss Leah herself. Says Leah, upon being asked by her husband how she manages this huge undertaking: "I see the beauty radiating out from your creations. When you create from your heart it, it shows. And when we receive support and encouragement, we grow, we take greater leaps, we gain confidence in ourselves as artists, and we encourage others to follow in our footsteps. And oh my, that's a beautiful thing. That's why doing this in a community is such a powerful thing. We can all encourage each other and help each other grow and stretch and take those leaps."
Enough said. I am back at work!

Today I am putting the finishing touches on the 2nd birthday daughter's art journal, so that we can present it to her on Sunday.
Here is the next project at hand. I'm not going to say what it is just yet, as I mentioned earlier that it would be Christmas presents, only to find that my child reads my blog! :0
I'll just show it to you as I work on it, step by step.

--phase 1--
Wet canvas, painted randomly with acrylics
Love love love the way the colors blend, like rain on sidewalk chalk!

--Phase 2--stamped randomly with black paint--
I kind of like it just like it is, but no, not done yet!

Art Every Day--DAY 12, Yes She's the Most Like Me

I may be exhausted and have hit a wall with the art journaling, but the Girl is on a roll!
Two journals in such a short time, working on the mural, being out past my bedtime last night, and just LIFE....I'm tired.
We'll talk about all that later, after a nap.
But in the meantime, have a look at some of the pages that the Girl has created, all by herself---

Day 11 of Art Every Day Month

my original mural--an Asian flair for the Reflexology room.
I never liked that panda-guy anyway.

Beginning the background for the new mural, which
will be the UGA Arch (hey, we live in Athens...it's a common theme)

So.....
since I was feeling better yesterday, I actually started putting in a background for that mural that has been hanging over my head forever.

The art journal is still all over the kitchen table, waiting to be finished, and the fabulously juicy Connie over at Dirty Footprints Studio just reminded me with her post about a "traveling studio" that I've got to get that finished and clean up around here before Birthday Girl and all her siblings and their significant others show up for dinner on Sunday! YIKES

What Do We Wish to Dare?

Raquy

From Jamie Ridler--

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt. Support wishes by visiting other participants, leaving a comment. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Today's Wishcasting Wednesday prompt--
What do you wish to dare?

Wow Jamie!
Do the wish prompts always have to bring up so much stuff?? :D
All the prompts over the last few weeks have brought up lists of wishes, from which I'm never able to pick just one.

Today's is no different.
There is much that I wish to dare. But having been practically an invalid for the past year, and ill for many years, even the small dares are huge to me.
Starting my blog, participating in Wishcasting Wednesday each week, producing my own Halloween art show, sponsoring what promises to be a gigantic community art event/fundraiser, and now being involved in Art Every Day month.... All a big, BIG deal for me!

Tonight, I'll be living a huge dare (for ME).
Tonight I'm going to a concert, probably all by myself (that's how badly I want to go).
Sunday I discovered Raquy and the Cavemen (thanks Christine!) and I re-discovered how great it feels to move my body! Lupus and fibromyalgia keep my body pretty well locked up, so it's been years since I've gotten up and moved like that. I danced around the house all afternoon; I cleaned and danced on Monday, and yesterday...well, yesterday I realized that I didn't feel too bad!

Yesterday I discovered that this group is playing just 20 minutes away, TONIGHT!
Coincidence? I think NOT!

My ticket is in my hand, and I'm ready to go. I may not last for the whole show, but I am so excited to hear this drumming live and witness the beauty of belly dancing, and actually feeling it all in my body. I'm excited to think that this is something that can actually help me to feel well again.

Thank you friends for all your sweet wishes, sending healing my way---they're working!!

AHEM....
I am hereby amending this post.
What I wish to dare really, truly----to be ME, to just be ME.
I think that just might fix everything.....

Art Every Day--Sharing the Spotlight on Day 10

Since the Canadian was kind enough to run out and shoot the purple berries for me yesterday, I think I'd like to share some of his art this morning.
I'll share more of mine and my girl's work later today.

Those of you have visited this blog before might be familiar with a friend's calendar project that we were helping out with.
Marion was having 12 artists paint 12 pregnant bellies, which were then shot by 12 photographers, all for a March of Dimes Fundraiser.
Most of this took place at the Fringe Collective Artistic Studios; one of the bellies was painted by yours truly, and at least a couple of mamas were photographed by Tim.

This particular mama had a great henna tattoo on her belly---a glorious tree of life. In preparing her photo for the calendar project, Tim has been playing around with it, creating all sorts of beautiful art. He decided that it was starting to look like a planet, and he started thinking along the lines of creation, earth mother, mother earth and on and on, until we were both knee deep in this piece.

Without further ado---the art of Mr. Timothy Schildknecht of the Fringe Collective---

For Kathryn

Kathryn (aka Collage Diva) has inspired me today with her deliciously juicy berry photos.
I discovered a bush I'd never seen before down my driveway a few autumns back---almost chartreuse leaves with clusters of the most delightfully purple berries. I looked it up and found that it is called Purple Beautyberry

I promised Kathryn pictures of it earlier today, but couldn't find the ones the Canadian had taken for me once before. I went out and shot some with my iphone, but they were pitiful.
All the leaves have fallen off and I'm not the best photographer.
Bless his heart, the Canadian came home from a long day, dead tired, went out and shot new ones for me.

So here you go Kathryn, just for you---

Art Every Day --DAYS 7, 8, 9

wishes and dreams for my girl---from little girl to teenager!

Whew! What a weekend! Guess we were just all being too creative here to actually post it all on Creative Every Day! :D

We finished up the Hannah-journal, with the help of friends and family. What fun to get them involved in all the creativity flying around!
Girlfriends contributed their efforts to several pages. It was interesting to watch them--their initial reaction was "what in the world is this crazy woman asking us to do?!" to "omg, this is so cool; can I do ANOTHER??!"



Then we got the siblings involved (I have 5 kids, plus the girlfriends/boyfriend), and they had their fun with some pages too.

And then when all was said and done, Hannah paid me the ultimate compliment---
She needed to take something to a youth activity at church later this week that would demonstrate what she's all about, and she was so excited to be able to have this journal to show! Made me just tear right up....I did something right! So much for ruining teenagers' lives Kathryn! ;D

Apparently she's not quite ready for this project to end. I took some photos of her last night, making more pages for her journal, and helping me with the other one (it has become a gift from her too). I'll share those later.
She also helped me paint a huge piece of canvas yesterday (more photos coming)......she kept asking me what we were doing with it, what was it for, and I had to work to keep my answers as vague as possible. It will eventually be made into Christmas presents for her and her siblings! Shhhhhh!

She said to me last night, "I'm the most like you of any of your kids, right Mama? I'm the most creative". There are moments like these that make me realize just how worth it it all has been. *SIGH*

We Are Born to Create

If I had any doubt before, I've just been re-assured.
Not once, but TWICE within a few hours, and so powerfully that I want to share it with all of you.

Curled up on the sofa last night, devouring the current issue of Somerset's Artful Blogging, savoring the delicious photos and feeling connected to the rich words of fellow bloggers, a name I recognized jumped up off the page and startled me from my reverie.
Seldom in "art circles" do I see leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints quoted, so I was caught off guard, but I read on with great interest.

Melissa Phillips of LilyBeanPaperie.typepad.com quoted Dieter F. Uchtdorf beautifully; his words resonated with me, as I'm sure they will with many of my creative friends:

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did no exist before.
Everyone can create. You don't need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty....You may think you don't have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before---colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter."

I pondered this reminder overnight, only to find the following posted by a friend (thank you Kathy!) on Facebook this morning. "Someone" must be trying to tell me something! Talk about being hit with a "spiritual 2x4" !!



If you or I have entertained any doubts about what we're doing, I think it's time to step back and re-think. There are valid reasons that we have the inclinations we do!
You and I were MEANT to create!

I have reason this morning to take stock, to stop running from my very nature and to move forward in my God-given abilities and desires, and to give thanks for them.
I can also thank Leah yet again at CreativeEveryDay.com for her challenge to us all to live up to our nature and create each day this month.

Let's go create something beautiful!

Art Every Day DAY 6

one more silhouette (quotes by Buddha and Einstein)

Sooo....the mural activity didn't happen yesterday as planned.
Had a 3.5 hour dental appointment, grabbed lunch and realized there just wasn't anything left.
Waiting for all that vibrant health wished my way on Wishcasting Wednesday....
come on!
These pages are simple simple---

a little pastel over paint, some rubber stamps, quotes by ee cummings and MOM

Art Every Day---DAY 5

I'm loving seeing the variety of art from the participants of Art Every Day!
There were 85 participants listed there last night! 85! How exciting to think of all of us, all over the world, creating together!

More journal pages finished, ready to share this morning.
My girls, just like so many girls these days, struggle with self-esteem issues. I added a little "meat" to these skinny-minny silhouettes I used. And I chose the quotes for their journals carefully. I loved this quote from Dr Seuss--
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy (girl) who'll decide where to go."

I'm hoping to work on a long-overdue mural later today, and will post photos of it as I work.
What will you create today?

Art Every Day--- DAY 4

stacks of painted papers await embellishment

a finished spread, featuring Queen Hannah
(idea from last issue of Somerset Digital Studio)

It's still Art Every Day month at www.CreativeEveryDay.com. Or rather, it's Day 4 and I'm
still in!
Still working on journal pages, with a few digital note cards thrown in for good measure.

It is decidedly good to hear from other artists that it's ok...no, not just ok....
It's downright IMPORTANT to play, and to sometimes create really bad stuff!

I'm fairly pleased with the way the journals are coming along, but yeah, every now and again, a page is well.....just crap. :D

What Do I Wish to Experience?

one my "many faces"

Up until today's Wishcasting Wednesday, I could read Jamie's prompt and immediately know what my wish would be.
But today....ahhh....today's wish is more difficult for me.

There are SO many things I'd like to experience--actual experiences I'd like to enjoy, but also feelings and states of being!
A few that slammed my thoughts this morning...
abundance/prosperity---I'd love to be able to experience the blessing of being able to pay my bills regularly!
success---not only financial success or success as an artist, but I wish to experience success as a parent and as a human being.
true peace---The world has become so very busy; I know I'm not the only one who feels like she can't keep up! And of course, if I experienced prosperity, I'd be able to experience more peace!
studio space---One of my most fervent wishes is to have enough space of my own in which to create. Yes, I have a room upstairs.....far too small, but a room of my own.....but it is upstairs, and I often cannot climb the stairs. The kitchen table works for me, up to a point, but I often can't find my supplies and have to interrupt my creative process to find the table for my family's meals. I know that if I'm creating regularly, and feel the freedom to do so, my body will feel better. So yes, I wish to experience the luxury of enough space of my own.

But the thing that I think I wish most to experience, the thing that weighs most heavily on me, and the very thing that I believe the above blessings hinge upon---

a return to health and strength

Without health and strength, I have difficulty obtaining the other blessings that I aspire to.
Some kind of Catch 22, ain't it?!
I need the health to obtain the other experiences I wish for, but those things I wish for would help me to obtain the health and strength! Just one of the many paradoxes of lupus.....

Either way, today I wish to experience a return to health and strength.

Art Every Day??!!

Yes, I realize it's Day 3, almost Day 4, but I haven't posted because I've been busy creating!

November is Art Every Day Month at Creative Every Day.
I'd decided months ago, when I discovered www.CreativeEveryDay.com and couldn't keep up with the monthly challenges, that there was no way I'd consider participating in Art Every Day for a month! Come on---this is my busiest time of year; I just finished up an exhausting show; I have 2 daughters' birthdays to prepare for, a holiday coming up, oh and what about Christmas coming way too fast??!

What about turning this idea around?
What if I just documented all the projects that I have to complete anyway, blog about them and link up with CE as often as I could?
Sounds like a plan, eh?

SO, I started out the month with a bang---
I combined Art Every Day, Jamie Ridler's full moon dreamboard AND Lisa Rough's Dream Wheel for not one, but TWO dreamboards for the first two days of the challenge.


Can you tell where my head is? Or my heart?
I've been feeling a little lost, I suppose...trying to remember who I am, and where I'm supposed to be heading.
The first wheel has a mountain view background that I shot in Waterton Park (on the Montana/Alberta border), with a portion of an Anne Brigman photo (never heard of Anne Brigman? Look her up! Fascinating work from the early 20th century).
The second wheel, a bit more fantasy/fairy tale---Rapunzel strokes her gorgeous auburn locks, with a fairy tale castle in the background. The quotes -- "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending" from Maria Robinson, and "Women lose their lives not knowing they can do something different. I claimed myself and remade my life. Only when I knew I belonged to myself completely did I become capable of giving myself to another, of finding joy in desire, pleasure in our love, power in this body no one else owns" from Dorothy Allison (Thanks to Kathryn at CollageDiva.com for that one). Other accents urge "Take your turn" and "Whatever you're dreaming, It's time."

Both of these pieces felt good; I felt something opening up inside me (heart and soul memory?) as I completed them during this full Frost Moon.

DAY 3---GETTING READY


Since there are 2 birthdays to manage, I'm working on 2 art journals. One would think those projects would last me the entire month, but no! I have to hurry and finish them by the 15th!
Here is where I started:

Necessities
notice the 90% chocolate is included!

Show's Over Folks....

Sam, Karrington, Alicia and Will

Sam as Edward Cullen??

Sam's girlfriend Molly, and their friend, Dr House, ...errr... Jordon

Below are photos of all the rest of the fun artwork from Penumbra.
Many of the pieces are still available; feel free to contact me with any inquiries!