Birdhouse and a Spring Blog Hop

Snapped a picture of the wren house on the backyard fence with the Indian Plum blooming and wanted to share. It's the one of earliest blooming native shrubs and blooms when the spring weather gets serious about arriving.

And speaking of Spring... two of my favorite artists (I've taken classes from both) are included in a group called ArtSpark. They are hosting a Blog Hop of Spring Tutorials that starts today. How fun! You can get the details here:

Carla Sonheim: http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/artspark-spring-tutorials/
Tracie Lynn Huskamp http://thereddoor-studio.blogspot.com/2011/03/tutorial-spring-day-1.html

I'm off to hop a few blogs and dream of Spring weather!

Still playing with oil pastels & ink

I LOVE the results, when I can get the card to come out. I discovered the paper from my sketchbook and Java Ink works best. Here are the final cards for the swap on atcsforall.com. Check out my techniques page to get details of how this was done.

Happy Spring!

Playing with beeswax and thinking of spring flowers.

A Visit with a Friend

I have made some wonderful friendships online, with artists from all over the world. I had an opportunity to meet one of those friends from the Chicago area yesterday when she was in Seattle for the NAEA conference. Only 90 miles away, and I couldn't resist! We had a quick lunch at a quirky little thai place a few blocks from her hotel, talking and laughing non-stop until she had to return to her meetings.

Then a leisurely drive home with husband (who had been checking out an electric bike shop and his favorite nursery while we met). It was a good day!

Happy St Patricks Day!

May your blessings outnumber 

the shamrocks that grow,  

and may trouble avoid you 

wherever you go.

A green fairy arch to wish you a Happy St. Patrick's Day! Probably should be a leprechaun, but I haven't one at hand. 

Now to find something green to wear, and a green beverage. No worries, it's green tea! 

Cheers!

Thinking up a new pin series... this is a test that needs a bit of something and I haven't decided quite what that is yet. It's using up bits and pieces from other projects, so mostly recycled. More to come...

What I have learned

People grieve differently. Some turn exclusive (she loved me more) Some turn vicious (his things are mine). Some forever alienate people by not considering others feelings or considering their methods of grief. With my daughter's death, I was "discarded" by some of my family. (They knew her better, loved her better) Seriously? More than her mother? Okay. Whatever.

It's sad to see that friends are doing it to each other with another friends recent death. She was just a human, she was not perfect, she gossiped and did mean things behind backs, along with the kindness and love and joy she shared. But we tend to raise the dead to sainthood. I have reached a low tolerance for it at this point of my life. Let go and go on...

And I'm tired after a long day, so am saying more here than I would normally. I choose to focus on positive rather than negative and am tired of those who choose otherwise.

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
Robert Frost