So Long, Farewell 2007

I took this picture on the hiking trail to Cedar Creek Falls in Ramona, CA a stones throw from my backyard. It reminded me of "The Sound of Music". It's not Salzburg, but it is another beautiful place on this earth.

I just love "The Sound of Music" by Robert Wise and the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein and it just so happened it was on last night... so my husband and I sat and watched it. I'm not sure how many times I have seen this movie but when Julie Andrews floats over those hills in Salzburg, Austria and belts out the title song I get goosebumps and tears come to my eyes. There is magic in this music and it lifts my spirit and how can we forget one of our fellow artists "Angela Cartwright" who played Brigitta von Trapp, such a talented woman.

So Long, Farewell 2007 ... so long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye



To all my old friends, new friends and to those I have yet to meet.
Be gentle with yourselves and remember to stay with PEACE in the coming year. This is a great big beautiful planet from afar but when we zoom in, we see we have work to do!

Thank you for your kind words on my blogs "The Artful Eye" and "The Way I See It" and I look forward to your visits in the future.

Let's make some GREAT ART in 2008!!

Lost and Found

My mom was here visiting from Denver, CO this past week so we took a trip up to Julian, CA. .. for those curious minds Julian, CA is located just east of San Diego in the Cuyamaca Mountains.

This is a beautiful, quaint mountain town which has lots to offer and the best apple pie you'll ever sink your teeth into... now unexpectedly on this glorious winter day while we casually strolled through town we came upon this chilly scene. The sun was shining, the air was a crisp 25 degrees.

Right there before our eyes, laid out on the rocks, dirt and fall leaves- was teddy. My immediate thought was "Oh, my!" how could anyone... *gulp*... leave behind this teddy and in this condition. Next thought, "CSI" Julian".
How did this teddy meet such a demise? eye missing, arm ravaged.

I looked around for any immediate suspects but it was apparent he had been here for some time. I knew what I had to do next and that was to snap a photo of him so that he could live on in our spirit. I contemplated picking him up, but then thought what if the perpetrator had second thoughts and decided to come back and rescue him. Give him new life?

We continued our stroll,snapping more pics along the way and then stopped for a nice warm meal in another one of my favorite places
"Romano's Dodge House"

I guess this picture summed up how I was feeling on this cold, wintry day.
A bit lost and a little found.

Hope your holidays were grand and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Please stop by to visit my other blogspot, "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

My Christmas Tree

5X5 beveled acrylic block reverse collage painting

The scribble you see off to the right actually says, "Merry"

I just forgot I was doing this in reverse and hadn't revved up my

backwards writing skills so, there you have it.  It's merry nonetheless!

Tomorrow- I'm off early from work and heading to my favorite

local tree farm "Pine Tree Acres"  to select this year's tree.

Can't wait..  

Be sure to stop by an visit my other blogspot "ThE ArTfuL EyE" 

It's A CiRcUs Out There

4X4 canvas, golden fluid acrylics, collage ephemera

This little canvas is one of a clown series I'm working on.  

I love clowns, always have and never quite sure why some people have a feared them.  What they should fear is the circus out there!

This canvas earned it's title from thoughts of my yesterday.  The holiday frenzy is in full swing and people are trying to multi-task more than ever and they're not good at it.  Ever try to run a few errands on your lunch break the weeks before Christmas?  It's like American Gladiators out there.  I was so fra-dazzled.  I just made this word up, it's state of being, cross between frazzled and dazzled, basically overcome by stimuli of all sorts, traffic, people, carts, glitter, holiday sounds and food.  

My only saving grace was I knew at the days end I'd be taking class to learn how to faux paint a unique burl wood design on wooden memory box using Ranger distressed inks, Memories stamp pads and satin varnish.  Also learned was how to make minature journal books using an origami fold.  I'll post finished product soon! 

Thanks for stopping by and hope you're not fra-dazzled. 

 

Be sure to visit my other blogspot: "ThE ArTful EyE"

The Rain, the Park and Other Things

The Rain,

"Rain Today "photo originally uploaded by macprohawaii

the Park,

Boston Public Garden- the nation's oldest park


West end Provincetown, MA

and Other things...

Oh, beehave..

I so love the rain and today it rained, but not enough.. Please rain some more.

I thought of this song, when I thought of the rain. For those of you who remember "The Cowsills" for your listening and viewing pleasure and for those neophytes hope you enjoy.



Feel free to mosey on by: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Out of My Gourd

So a couple of months ago I decided to try my hand at
yet another art medium "Gourd Art" -as if I didn't already
have my hands into so many other wonderful mediums.
I took one class, learned two techniques, a closed coiled
and basketweave. Learned how to grow, clean, cut and dye a gourd and I was immediately hooked. I made this one specifically for a wedding gift and have since completed two others. I still need to take pics of the other two I've recently completed and will post them soon..

Here's another view.

If you ever get a chance to travel to Fallbrook, CA
the "International Gourd Art Festival" is a must see.
I had the chance to go this past summer and I'm still reeling at the beautiful, talented gourd art that I encountered at this event and talk about supplies...geeeshh a feast for one's eyes.

Another reason I'm out of my gourd...

Last night when I left work I drove directly to the Apple Store
in Fashion Valley and bought myself an 24" iMac. I'm a convert!
Did I say out of my gourd?! because the last time my fingers
touched a mac I was using an Apple IIe. Now I'm dating myself.
What this means I'll soon be transferring files from my current Dell PC (don't know how) and installing and teaching myself a whole new operating system. So... if I vanish from sight for awhile you'll know I fubar'd things up and I'm trying to wrangle my way back.
I consider myself a pretty savvy PC user but this whole Mac experience is new to me.
Wish me luck!

OH and BTW...have I mentioned that this daylight savings time stinks because I leave for work at o'dark thirty and return home at o'dark thirty. It feels like it's way past my bedtime.

Ciao! Please visit my other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Holiday

4x4 canvas board collage, text transparency
torn copy of vintage postcard- Santa Barbara, CA Hwy 101
Golden Fluid Acrylics, gel medium

There was something about today that was magical.
Perhaps it was "a day of freedom from labor". I took the day off
and decided to work on finishing some journal pages,
a little bit of sewing and a stroll by some local antique stores to see what I could rummage.

Items found:
-vintage Atlas jar of old buttons, more vintage handpicked buttons.
-old vintage glass sign- "small deposit needed to hold items"
- a handful of beautiful vintage cabinet photos
- a framed vintage hand cross-stitched saying,
"Let me have a little space where maybe I can come and go"
- small vintage wood sign,
"There is always, always, always something to be thankful for"
- a cast iron weathervane
- small cream white cast iron birds nest with blue robins eggs
-2 extremely large childrens board books for altering 24 X 36

It was a glorious day bathed in sunshine and well needed.
Hope your day went well and thanks for stopping by.
My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Artist's Reflection

First I'd like to thank Tim Holtz and Ranger for adding distress to my life. These products are awesome. I created this little collage journal book from plain 'ole chipboard utilizing distress inks, 9 X 9 double-sided cardstock, distress embossing powders, bits of ephemera, vintage photos, collage etc.

The cover of this journal is created using foam core to raise window template and mica to cover the three individual windows.


On the inside, there are several pages with pockets to add other fun stuff.


This is the back. It' put together with small binder rings and ribbon.
Metal tabs are crimped around the edges.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to mosey on by my other spot: "The Artful Eye"