Pheasant

This pheasant just happened to be my favorite of the art I created for a swap on atcsforall.com. It layers vintage dictionary page, paper napkins and image, inks and beeswax to meld them all together.

Walking in Sunshine

 

Had a lovely walk today on Red Tail Reach with Johnny. Sunshine and a bit breezy but warm enough to wear a light jacket.

We crossed the foot bridge at Racine to get to the trail and looked at the new plantings along Whatcom Creek in the restoration area and watched the creek flow along. Forgot my camera and used my cell phone so the pictures aren't the best. You do get an idea of the trail. You may notice two mallard ducks in the water.

There is a memorial bench near the fork in the trail that goes toward Fraser Street. It would be a nice place to rest when the weather is just a bit warmer.

My goal is to walk one of the Bellingham area trails each week this year... we have miles of trails in our fair city. I'm on track so far. :)

My favorite things

That's the theme of the moleskine journal I just sent off in the mail. So which of my favorite things did I choose...
Traveling with Johnny in the motorhome
Gardening
Sunflowers
Playing with Mina
Birds
Butterflies
Collage, using layered & textured backgrounds

Here's the spread, which was collaged on a gessoed then paint layered background using paper napkin sunflowers and birds and pictures.

Pot of Gold

The pot of gold isn't at the end of the rainbow... it's with me.  

On the verge of some tough decisions, I got a reminder from the universe via email:  

...the time has come to get clear about who you

are and what you choose.

There come moments in every person's life when a

decision is necessary. A big decision. A major choice.

Such a time is now.

What you get to choose today is who you are and who

you choose to be, and what you wish to experience in

your life. Remember, not to decide is to decide.

  

 

Changing To Grow

I have been a bit restless lately. I find it interesting that my horoscope today reminds me that change brings growth. I am ready for some major changes. Which way shall I go...

Aries Daily Horoscope 
What you truly want out of life may not be clear to you today, and you may find it difficult to make firm choices. You may feel compelled to rethink or revise your goals. You also may be considering making revisions to plans involving large-scale life changes that could impact your job or personal life. If achieving your dreams is causing you to feel fearful or anxious, it may soothe you to remember that change is necessary for growth. The changes you make today will likely be your learning experiences of tomorrow. Try to keep in mind that few changes are ever permanent. Don’t mentally hold yourself back from accepting an opportunity that will change your life for the better. 

It is only through change that we are able to grow. Transformation takes you out of your comfort zone so you can evolve. A change will always bring new experiences and add different elements to your life. In the midst of change, we learn how to handle a fresh set of variables. As we adapt, we assimilate this change into our beings; we have already grown when we become more than we were just a moment before. When you allow change to happen naturally today, any plans you make will be able to evolve organically so that you can realize your dreams.

New Years Resolutions

Spend more time away with Johnny in our little motor home
Release the "stuff" I keep because... I can't remember why but I need it.
Spend some time every day outside in nature... in my garden, on the trails, wherever I can find it.
Draw the nature I see, and use it in my art.
Teach more classes
Take more classes
Make art for myself
Set up my art studio away from my "office"


More to follow...

Picture by my sister Julie taken on New Years Day

Calvin's Christmas

While I don't have a good picture of our Christmas tree, I do have Calvin under it. He decided it was a good place to take a nap. Note the train track and side lined cars around him. He'd sit and watch it go around and around and around. :)