White Christmas

After a week of snowy weather, it melted a bit yesterday afternoon, and then dumped another inch or so of snow last night. So we woke to a freshly white morning. The little birds are happy at the sunflower and suet feeders, and hopping about right outside the sliding windows where we've sprinkled a bit of mixed seed. Calvin (our old and increasingly persnickety kitty) sits and watches them, but has given up wanting to go outside. No place to roam for little kitties with a foot of snow on the ground.

It's a quiet Christmas with John and Jason, which is good. I've been teary quite a bit, with good memories and sad memories. I was wrapping the presents for the stockings, using bits and pieces of left over and saved papers, and turned one over to cut it out and there was a sticker "To Mom From Jen". So, after crying a bit, I cut that piece out and will include that in her memory journal. I felt her with us when we were sitting with the candles glowing watching the tree. I know she's here with us, I just want to be able to hug her one more time.

Wishing everyone Peace and Joy in the coming year.

Making Art and surviving

The holidays are being hard this year. I keep seeing things that Jen would love, and it makes me sad. Decorating reminds me of when she was here playing with us, and it makes me sad. It's hard not to be teary all the time.

I've visited with my sister Julie a few times this past month, and have her hooked on Artist Trading Cards now too. We haul our art supplies back and forth and play! Last time I was down I brought her some beeswax and paper napkins and we had fun creating. This ATC is one I made when we were together recently.

  

This chunky page was created for Els in a Play it Forward swap… the larger envelope has a John Muir quote folded up and tucked in it, the smaller a leaf charm.

There is HOPE in the air!

Yay for a new president! It's a beautiful fall day, and there is HOPE in the air! :)

Edit: A bit after I posted this we were looking out the back sliding glass door and saw four bald eagles soaring in circles just a tiny bit up the hill. It's a good sign, we decided.

Leaf prints

I've been playing with leaf printing the past few weeks, which is great fun and with the leaves starting to fall, it's the perfect time. I used a few different base paper colors and pigment and chalk inks... most ended up being monochromatic. Here are a few of the art projects I've done using my own background papers.

One of my altered CD's in an online swap

My entry for a Fall themed ATC contest on atcsforall.com

A few ATC's made during a collage-a-thon this past weekend. These little autumn fairies by Cicely Mary Barker are just adorable, and went so well with the leaf print backgrounds. They make me happy. :)

 

Autumn

There was frost on the roof this morning, but luckily it didn't get low enough to nip my flowers. My nasturtiums are in full bloom and crawling all over the garden which is just how I like it. And the Autumn crocus are blooming. It's incredible how many there are... they spread a bit each year. How lovely! They are so cheerful, I want them to last! I'll have to get better pictures tomorrow... but this shows some of the crocus.

Our world traveler made it home safely from his England trip. Jason had a good time and found himself a few treasures. Interestingly, he came home with two tins of tea for me, from Ahmad of London... the same brand as on a tea pot of Jen's I ended up with, although he didn't know that when he bought the tins. I believe he has a new guardian angel. :)
He's becoming quite the photographer... this picture of Stonehenge is one of my favorites.

Cute goblins

I have been going through photos and found the cutest one of my kids on a long ago Halloween. When I actually made their costumes. Jen was a Hershey's kiss, Jason a pirate with a leather look vest. Aren't they cute?

I've been missing my daughter a lot the past two weeks, and know there's nothing I can do about it. I just have to get through. Sometimes it's okay to let myself be sad.
Jason is coming home from his England trip tonight, so maybe having him around will lift my mood a bit.
I am blessed to have friends who care for me, and who allow me to be sad without trying to "fix it". Sometimes being alone is what I need. Sometimes I need to be with others. They reminded me last night that I just have to reach out, and they will be there for me. I am indeed blessed.

Window

I'm using this photo as an entry for an atcsforall monthly contest on windows. It's actually on the fence in our backyard, and trapper John's old rusty traps are hanging there. I took it before he had the walls up on his shop, which now blocks the view of the window from most of the backyard. I know that it's there.

I sold one of my itty bitty accordion books!

I had put it out for display at the store on Monday as a demo for an upcoming class. Am kicking myself for not taking a picture of it. Anyway, I'd left work and our assistant manager came running out looking for me... a guy wanted to buy one of my demo books. So I sold it. How about that!

This is another demo book that has received a lot of comments, for a class I'm teaching this weekend. It's a star accordion, which I'm using as a display journal for mail art I've received.

Family Reunion

We had a family reunion last weekend... it felt more like a chore to go rather than a fun time this year. My energy is in a low place right now, and I need to be around positive people with good good good energy. It was a mis-mash of whiny people who are always whiny and controlling people who take offense when you ask not to be controlled AND some loving supportive energy people... it wore me out.

I'm going to learn how to do this...

Recieved this lovely needle felted bird from an online friend, monarch... isn't she just adorable? :)

Sunshine today

Life is just a bowl full of cherries. Some fruit, some pits. Ya gotta remember which is the one to spit out.

My art has been saving my sanity the past few months. Being able to create something helps me when I feel so sad I can barely move.

I've branched out from ATC's and gotten into trading chunky pages - to make 4 x 4 inch themed books. (I'm collecting birds and nests and garden themed.) I've posted a couple I've made in the past month.

I've been working a few days a week at the Paper Zone surrounded by lovely papers and art supplies and a wonderful manager, asst. manager and co-workers. My work family is so much fun! It's another thing that is keeping me sane.

Although, sometimes, don't you think sanity is over rated? :)

Mothers Day

Appropriately, it's gray this morning. It rained last night. Jen's kind of weather. Odd feeling... today is the first mothers day without her. A week and a half ago she was still alive. She would call me mid morning to wish me a happy day, her card always arrived on Saturday.

She left a mothers day card for me with the birthday box that she never got mailed. It didn't say enough. She wished the sun to shine on me warmly. Now she's dancing with the light and the sun no longer hurts her eyes.

My niece found this photo from her Sept 2006 wedding and gave me a framed copy. It caught Jen unguarded, looking like the girl who was in her jammies having tea with me in the morning.

I miss my beautiful girl.

Artfest!

I can't even begin to describe how totally incredible an experience Artfest was for me. I shared House 15 with 9 wonderful loving people! We had pajama parties to share our day with each other every night.

My first class was with Misty Mawn. It was fast paced and I learned a lot that keeps coming back to me as time goes on. I loved her demos, very clear each step of the way. Second day was with Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch, a pouring frensy. Fun and messy and I made a new friend... my table mate from Seattle area. Lynn Perella was the final day, and was an incredible teacher. The picture is from that class... a very cool process and painted on red rosin paper. And I made another friend to stay in touch with from Colorado.

Did I mention the trades? Wednesday night at dinner is the official trading place, apparently. It was indeed a chaotic fun time. Many wonderful trades, and it was fun to see at home how many were from folks who ended up in my classes.

I will be going next year, and our House 15 will request we be together again. It was a kick... and apparently not all houses are as friendly. One of our neighbors came up to us the last morning saying she had been watching us have our pajama parties from her upstairs room, wishing she could join us. :)

My first Artfest!

I'm getting my final preparations done, packing my bags and wondering where it will all fit, and then Wednesday morning will be off to Artfest, a four day art retreat in Port Townsend. My first! I'm a festal virgin, apparently, along with other first time attendees. I'm just a bit nervous, but very excited and can't wait to get there and start playing.

Many folks bring "trades", and mine are little wooden charms. They are stained with alcohol inks, some images stamped, hedgehogs are decoupaged, colored in and crystal lacquer over the top to seal. The back of all the charms have acorns. Very simple charms based on the retreats theme of Forest Walk. The picture shows the charms awaiting their jump rings and packaging.