In like a lion...

March is here, and everyone - everywhere else, at least - is lauding the presence of Spring. Well, here in New England, we've had more snow in late February and early March than we've had in the last three winters combined. So we're happy to hear that there is hope for a change of seasons!

While all this weather has been going on, I've been playing some more (a lot, actually) with my artistic muse. Here are some examples of what I've been up to. All of these are from my art journals.

I'm taking a class "Alter Me Silly" from my friend Laura Thykeson (find it at http://lthykesonsmixedmediauniques.ning.com Laura is one of the most talented people I've ever known, and she is fun. The first task was to acquire a "big book" so I was off to the used book store to explore. I ended up purchasing an old Children's Atlas of the US. Our first instructions were on how to decorate the cover. I didn't follow any of Laura's directions for that (I am known to her as a problem child). Instead, I used some of the scraps of mine from my Gelli-Arts printing plate. I have so many, and it just seems right to use what I have and not go purchase fabric. Besides, I don't have a glue gun, either. So here is my initial result. I may add a little embellishment to the front cover, but part of me says "The box clicked." We'll see.

FRONT COVER: For the front cover, first I spread a thin layer of gesso over the shiny finish of the book board. Once that dried, I painted it black. It was a new, blank palette! I loved it, but had to finish my job.

BACK COVER: I did not gesso or paint the back cover. I simply glued the Deli-wrap prints right onto the original cover. Some of the printing shows through, which I really like! That was a happy mistake!

I've just been having all sorts of fun, and feel very blessed. We are one day into Daylight Savings Time, and already it feels like life is more bearable. Perhaps it has something to do with that promise of Spring. Oh, and just to prove my point about the weather, here is what it looked like here last Friday morning!

Having fun with my Gelli Plate!

I've had my 8X10 Gelli Plate for several months...maybe even since before they became all the rage! Since then, I've ordered the 6X6 and the 12X14. I love all of them, but have to admit that the 12X14 is still in its original packaging. I just don't know what to do with it yet.

Anyway, I have a great big stack of  Deli Paper with beautiful monoprints. I've used these monoprints to make covers for little Junque Journals, in collages in my art journal, on note cards...the uses are wide and fun and amazing. I must admit that I was blown away today when I watched a video by Carolyn Dube. She used her Gelli Plate to decorate a pair of white canvas shoes! Is that awesome or what?

So here are some of my favorite Gelli Print monoprints so far. It may appear that I prefer to doodle in my paint, but that's not really true. These faces, however, made me very happy and I'm happy to share them with people who will appreciate how excited I was when I pulled that paper off my Gelli-Plate!

Remember that when you write on the Gelli-Plate, it has to be backwards

in order for it to come out forwards. I know that sounds confusing, but it's true!

Thanks for looking!

48 Questions

Sometimes it's just good (for me) to answer questions like these.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? The Blessed Virgin

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last week

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, and thank you Sister Mary Kenneth

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Salami

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Yes

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Grape Nuts

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically: not very; Mentally: yes

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Ben & Jerry's - surprise me

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Teeth

15. RED OR PINK? Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Weight

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Katie

18. WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST? Exercise

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Brown

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? A slice of cold pork roast

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Jazz on WICN 90.5 FM

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Crimson

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Coffee, the ocean, and babies

24. HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS TO YOU? Very important

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE? Beach House

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Baseball

27. HAIR COLOR? Dark brown

28. EYE COLOR? Blue

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Chili Rellenos

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Argo

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Taupe

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer

35. FAVORITE DESSERT? Vermongelin

36. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO? Yes

37. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION? Computer

38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Faces of Jesus

39. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't use one

40. FAVORITE SOUND? Laughter

41. FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC? Americana

42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Ireland

43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Many

44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Denver, CO

45. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? Worcester, MA

46. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE? Gray

47. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR? White

48. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 48 QUESTIONS? Sort of

Hmmmm...

I was just sitting here, not really "searching" the internet, but doing a little browsing. Something occurred to me when I saw the word COLOR highlighted in a blog I was reading.

First of all, I mistook the word for COLORADO and immediately was interested...then immediately disappointed when it was only COLOR. But then, it occurred to me that COLOR is part of COLORADO and without COLOR, there would not be a COLORADO! So, my dear native state is inside of me because I am - truly - (in spite of what I said above) all about COLOR! However, where I currently live give me signals of words that don't seem to be as much fun as COLOR. But I won't go there.

Here is a photo to show you some of what I've been busy doing lately. I just love decorating these Kraft tags! I also did some simple index cards. There is something very gratifying about how the paper of the index card absorbs the water colors and spreads them around naturally. It's been almost comforting doing these artistic tasks!

I've also been busy making some very special Valentines. Are you on my list? Just say the word, and I'll have one of these sweet things sent your way. I love Valentine's Day!

Also I've been busy with my Gelli-Arts Gelli Plate. I got the large (12x14) for Christmas, but have not opened it yet. The original 8X10 seems to be a great size to work with, although I also have the 6X6. Anyway, I'm just begining the Gelli-Arts tutorial with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and it is great so far. Tonight I did a lot of deli paper monoprints, using different objects to make shapes and texture. Fun, fun, fun.

Merry Christmas 2012

I'm not sure who will read this, but whoever you are you are wished abundant blessings for Christmas and for the new year! Thank you for following my blog!

I really stepped out on a limb this year, and sent some of my original art to family members as gifts. I'm still anxious about it, even though I've only had positive feedback from (a few) family members. Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about.

See, there's really nothing wrong with any of this! My IC needs to take a trip back around the corner and crawl under that dumpster where she seems to feel right at home among garbage!!

We are having leftovers for dinner tonight: Prime Rib, roasted potatoes, salad and some yummy apple pie. It will be quieter than last night's meal, when we had 11 around the table. But it will be just as good, because we will remember what it felt like to have our Worcester family right here. There's nothing like the feeling of family. I'm just sayin'.

Saying Goodbye Again

Our dear friend Roger died last week. Today is calling hours at the mortuary, and tomorrow is the funeral. Roger and his family really wrapped their arms around the three of us and made us part of their family for the last few years. We have been included in all of the "big holidays" and birthdays, Baptisms, you name it. We have felt like we have family here in Worcester. And that's a really good thing.

Good job, faithful and giving servant. I'm happy you are no longer suffering. I'm sad for those of us left to mourn your loss. The hole in my heart is very big. But we'll be okay, knowing that you are also now okay.

See you some day. Save me a seat.

Roger's online obituary

Settling Back In

Well, I'm back in Worcester and think I/we are going to be here for awhile. The last four weeks have been so crazy I can't even believe it's only been five weeks since we got back from Ireland. Wow. Seems like a lifetime ago, but in reality it was.

Some of you may know that my father-in-law, Warren's dad, died very rapidly after being diagnosed with a rare type of pancreatic and liver cancer. About three weeks before we left Ireland we learned that he had a tumor on his pancreas. The prognosis was not good, but the time frame was well received and there was no reason to panic. Warren was quite concerned, of course, and anxious to find a time to get out there after we returned to the states. Four days after we got home, Warren was on an airplane to Denver, and things were not going well. We flew Jonathan out the following Thursday and Don died on Friday. Shocking. U.n.b.e.l.i.e.v.a.b.l.e.

This week, I spent a few days in Austin, Texas with a good friend from Worcester. We stayed with Ann and Staci, friends Warren and I made while we lived in Austin when he attended seminary. It was great to see them. My friend and I ate lots of Mexican food and barbeque and watched bats and looked at beads and fabric and drank beer and ate gingerbread pancakes. It was a great few days; it was a great way to "seal the deal" on my 60th birthday.

So now I'm back. The farm stand is going great guns and we are trying to eat fresh corn on the cob every day before it's all gone for the season! I love that place so much!

I have a lot on my plate for the next few weeks, mostly creative stuff that will keep me busy and happy. This is a good thing! So, as we march into Autumn, I'm going to enjoy the beautiful weather and make some beautiful paper to use for my Christmas project. Fun, fun, fun!