Memories of vacation past

This week I've been on vacation....no these pics aren't from my vacation this year. These are from our last real vacation 2 years ago when we went to see my sister, Sherry and family in Florida. Wow, were does time go? It seems like yesterday and at the same time it seems like a lifetime ago. I just took off a few days this week to regroup, get some odds and ends done and to relax. Next month I will be opening a new bank for the company I work for so time off again may not come for several months. Having all this time off has been a good test as to how I would do if I were a full time artist.....revelation?? I need to stay off the computer..lol. The temptation to check email, see if I had any sales, play with photos, blog hop, check facebook, and all the other little diversions is HUGE! I would need to set some boundaries because i sure didn't get as much done as I had hoped. I did manage to haul 4 loads of garbage out of my sons room. We basically threw out all his toys other than his video games, board games, and books. Gone are the trucks, remote control cars, action figures, and little chachi toys that were cluttering up his closet and floor....oh my. What a relief. Later on, I'm going to put the better stuff on freecycle for someone that enjoy them. Still, it's kinda sad to see them go only because I know that in away , it's letting go of the little boy he once was.....


((Sons Zach and Josh...2007))
I was looking through some photos and it's a shame that i don't have more physical photos. I have a bazillion on the computer but pretty much stopped getting them printed after Josh was about 2 years old. I think that's when I received my digital camera. When we had the fire in 2006, the photos I did have were in a plastic tub in my bedroom closet so thankfully they weren't damaged, but they were impacted by the heat and smoke. I have a ton that are all stuck together from all that. I still have a lot that are good so for that I'm happy about.

This is my sweet photogenic nephew, Matthew and my sister Sherry, in the background. It's too bad the kids don't live closer to each other so they could spend more than a couple days every year or so together. There's so many things we miss being so far away, I guess it's important to capture the moments when we can be together.

Take out your camera today and take some pictures of the little things, you'll be glad you did.

Live creatively, create to live!

Are We Back Home?? (EDIT with instructions))

Yayyyy, we have a snow day in NC today!! Here's a shot at 7:30 this morning out my backdoor. It's a scene I miss from my NY days but on the other hand, don't want to see too many of just the same :)

Out the front door and there's more snowy goodness. I'm going to get my but in gear and get outside for real not just in my jammies snapping pics from my doorway. I was looking through some pictures on flickr and there's one amateur photographer I especially like and she uses a canon eos 50d I believe....so, let's put another thing on my "I want that" list so I can take awesome photos, too!



Speaking of awesome photos...heheeh....look at this ghostly gal. Here's another experiment in my portrait execution and photoshop play.. I'm getting better at this thing. Still a ways to go as I'm stumbling on techniques by accident and not exactly doing what I want to do but all the same I'm learning as I go!

EDIT:
How I achieved this effect on photo shop...
1) Open up the file you want as your main feature.
2) Turn it to black and white, adjust to the contrast you want (add more green, add more blue...in this case I darkened the highlights).
3) Add a layer of color fill. I chose a light pink and adjusted the opacity down quite a bit.


4) Next, open up a background picture. I chose a picture that I took around the same time I took this photo of myself last spring.

5) If it appears on top of your screen, go back to the background layer picture that has your main feature.

6) Now, move the new picture on top of the main picture. It's going to cover your main picture all up so over on the right, move the opacity bar down until you achieve the flow through effect you want.


7). Next, I merged all layers and then cropped the photo to my liking.

8) Last, I just used my pen tablet and added pseudo photo corners with a dry media brush tool. You can do this with your mouse, too, if you don't have a pen tablet. Pick your pencil pixel, then take the drop down box and pick your pencil type and play with borders, etc.

**I'm doing this from memory so hopefully you get the gist enough to be able to try it your self. You can try duplicating a layer or two, add more color fill layers and play with the enhancements.***

So what is it that you want to buy to help launch your creative endeavors??

State of the Art

Did you ever wonder about the decisions you make in life....and what the effect it's going to have on not just your life...but on others? There's a change in the air for me, and as I think about this next leg of the journey I'm about to embark on, I am beginning to doubt myself as many times as I reassure myself that I made the right decision. It's the trickle down effect though, what I do that effects someone else, that effects another...but in the end, I'm sure it will be for the best because the opportunity arose, I went for it...and I got it. So it must have been meant to be, right?? Right?? I can't really say much more than that until next week, but just wanted to hear your thoughts. Maybe I'm just feeling the anxiety one feels when making a big decision. When we take flight, there's that immediate drop in the pit of your stomach. Will I land safely, will the others around me survive as well? Will we reach our destination? Are we going at the right time? Did I choose wisely?

So with the anxiety I've felt this week as I walked through the doors of change, I worked a bit more on my little pink houses series to soothe my fears and created a few more backgrounds in one of my favorite color combo's: yellow, white, and gray. The little circles were done in water soluble oil pastels which I have had for awhile but haven't really used much. What better time than now to experiment? I think I am just going to do some abstract flowers on the canvases. I'm still trying to bulk up my inventory for my new store that I'm going into next month. How's that going? Well....I've only finished 4 pieces out of the 12 I wanted to finish..lol. You do the math.

I did clean up my table, not that you can tell from the pics, but it is a whole lot more organized than it was before. I even put down new freezer paper for the occasion. Lord knows where we are going to eat Thanksgiving dinner now that I moved the dining room table out of the way for my art table!! LOL

Last weekend we spent in Myrtle Beach celebrating my oldest son's 14th birthday and one of my good friends birthday as well. 14, 14....is it possible for me to have a 14 year old?? Y'all do know that I had him when I was 15 right?? LOL

Here he is at the rude restaurant that we went to for his birthday dinner. Man, does he look so grown up to me!

You are never too old to get presents.

Or to have your cake and eat it, too.

Today, lil man and I visited the Turkey festival in Raeford, NC. Yep, Turkey Festival. Home of the House of Raeford Turkey..lol. I'm sure that's where it originated. We shared a big ole turkey drumstick as we walked around the vendors and foodies. Yep, you might be a redneck if...you have a turkey festival in your town!

I think he injured himself on the big blow up slide. All is good though. At least there's a smile on his face :)

***

Create to live, live to Create.

Fall & Change is the Air at Sweet Repeats

First off, let me thank all of you who stopped by to enter my latest giveaway. I loved hearing all of your comments about your childhood street and the memories you shared. I had to call my Mom and remind her to check in and see Burgess Street. She also read all of the comments and was in awe at how a piece of art can resonate the memories of so many. It really rings true that while we are all so different, there are so many common links that bond us. I think Mom was touched that even as a child, I had the wisdom to know that 5 Burgess, was a place we all could get a fresh start and new beginning. It makes me think about my kids and wonder how their memories of childhood are going to manifest. I hope it's full of good times and laughter. I hope they remember that their Mom tried her best.
I'll post the winner tomorrow morning....There's still ove r a half hour to enter the drawing!

****Featuring my new Limited Edition Fall Sweet HeART magnets****

Memories of Labor Day weekend as a child always was so bittersweet. Like a sign, it read the end of summer was definitely at hand. The schedule-less days were coming to a close. It seemed as soon as Labor Day was here, the sweatshirts were needed the following day. I actually liked the ritual of preparing for school. The promise of the blank notebook and the fresh new clothes on my back were fun and invigorating.

Remember imagining all the great things you could become after school? I wanted to be a writer, The President, an Advertising Executive, a music group manager, a musician.
Not a banker..LOL..like I am now.

Who's kidding anyone. I still don't know what I want to do, but I think I'm doing it. I'm now just trying to figure out how to do it and Soar, meaning to do this, and nothing else and actually be able to afford the same things I do today and more. Is it possible? Or do I need to get me a sugar Daddy?? LOL (((just kidding))).

What's life without a little laughter.
My sons and I had a good laugh driving today listening to 96.5, an oldie rock station. I gave them the giggle fits playing the baddest 'fiddle' in the land while driving and listening to the Charlie Daniel's band, 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia'. If you see me driving, you probably see me bopping my head and rocking it out like a crazy woman. My kids laugh at me but do the same thing :) The apples don't fall too far from the tree.

I'm reading for a new season to change. I can feel many things about to unfold and I'm preparing my nest, my mind, my world for things to go in new directions. Hopefully, I'll taste success when I take those leaps.

Here's a peek at my 'Parking Lot'. I've tried to declutter a bit today and yesterday. As much as I love my art supplies, things are getting a bit too cluttered. Okay, really cluttered. It was hindering my ability to do anything or do anything efficiently. Not to mention stressing me out just thinking about stuff everywhere. To combat my growing collection of everything, I bought a few inexpensive bins and carts, as well as a cool black decorative ladder which I put all my pencils, markers, brushes, and other doo dads on then adorned with some beautiful tags my last swap partner, Katie, made me. My dining room art area is looking much better now, but there's still the rest of the house to tackle.
Baby steps. I've moved forward at that's all that matters.

I'm working on some Spooktacular cupcake pieces for Halloween. I hope they turn out like I imagine. I love all the wonderful decorations for Halloween and wanted to make some pieces for Etsy that hopefully will speak to someone who appreciates the whimsical side of the holiday :)
Also featured are a stack of ATC/ACEO's and more magnets that have been painted.

Why is it that I start or take on so much all at once? At this moment, I have 13 main pieces going, 50 magnets prepped, 12 ATC's/ACEOs, and 3 mini pieces.
I think I just love the process of starting things and all the possibilites that can be achieved when I do new things. But more than that, I try to be efficient with my time and work on multiple pieces at once so that when one piece dries, I can move on to the next w/o having to worry about setting things up over and over again.
Staying focussed and finishing what I started is my weak point, but I have some deadines to meet and some self imposed goals to achieve so that is a driving force in my getting a lot done in September. Mark my words, I will complete all of these pieces and more by October 1st. Good things are coming....I can feel it.
Keep your fingers crossed for me that it' s not just a gut feeling :)

***

Today's the only day we are promised, so live it fully and live it creatively.

Stepping out of the Zone

Is it Monday already?

Having a few days off really spoils oneself, doesn't it? I had Wednesday through Sunday off and got a whole bunch, a WHOLE BUNCH of artwork done, 7 pieces altogether would you believe?!
I also was whittling away at my article during my days off. I figured I would take the creative approach to keeping notes about my process and put them in the big BIG HUGE journal I have that I received during our Paris Swap. I totally made note keeping fun. If I only could have brought my markers and stamps to college, life would have been so much easier! I wish I had beautiful handwriting, I have a tendency to scrunch up my words together, sometimes barely even waiting to finish one word before moving on to the next.

During this time off, I day dreamed about what it would be like to throw the corporate world away and turn to my hands as well as my mind to make my living.
What was my conclusion?
I need a sugar Daddy. LOL
No seriously, I'm a modern woman here. I can take care of myself--but not yet by myself. I still need my day job, but I do believe I could make a decent living if I could focus the majority of my day on my artistic life. I might be a skinnier gal and have to take a few less trips to Starbucks--but hey, I'm about to have to make that choice anyway with the rising prices so what the heck. Well, what the heck is Insurance money. That's pretty much the only reason why I won't quit my day job truth be told.
Well until that day comes along, I'm satisfied to create on the side and have fun in my own little world. I'm hoping soon it's going to branch off into bigger things--time will tell!

In my last post, we ( meaning me) started a discussion about what you are doing to save money these days. Be sure to check back in the comments and read what others are doing--and please share yours if you missed the post!
Several of you mentioned using what you have, ENJOYING what you have whether it be the food you already do have or utilizing the (art) supplies you own before going out to the store to by more. That's a great tip. The picture above denotes pieces of scrap I use over and over again in my pieces to create texture and use as stencils. Nothing fancy and probably mostly things you have in your stash. I've been doing good at saving things that I think will work in my art. Almost too good. I've got a growing stash of 'texture' tools as well as papers that I can pull from at a moments notice. That's saving and recycling, right?
Although, I must admit, I did visit an Etsy shop recently of a new friend called Remember Yesterday and bought some cool vintage goodies to use in my collages. I received them today and the shop owner through in some goodies from her art store--Kathy's collages and assembleages are wonderfully crafted. You must visit!! Very reasonable I might mention (as we are trying to save $$)

See here--I'm working on my 'secret projects'(which are completed now), utilizing one of my used up gift cards! I've used the credit cards and gift cards before to spread on paint on my collages, but only recently started working with modeling paste and found that the cards are perfect for laying on this medium as well. Who needs an expensive palette knife??

I need to do a few touch up on these pieces before I list them, but they are pretty much completed. I had a coffee shop in town in mind when I made these, I even used their cups they use for inspiration. I doodled and journaled on the background using a brown charcoal pencil. That's the first time I used a brown charcoal pencil.

I love the distressed look it generates as I worked the yellows, creams, and oranges in to create the warm and funky background.

Makes me want to grab a cuppa Joe...something I drink entirely too much of. I do get a lot done every day thanks to my pal Joe.
In other good news, I prospected two more shops that I potentially can put my art in. One is going to be perfect for a couple of bigger pieces. The other, my friend Amy put in a good word for me to one of her friends that owns a shop and I am going to chat with her about potentially being a featured artist for August. It's all very exciting. I'm glad I've started to network and get to know other people and artists in my area. It's taking a big step for me because outside of work, I'm pretty much a loner....making friends and getting out in the world pretty much doesn't happen for me so it's definitely outside of my comfort zone. I'm fine once I get to know people, but generally I'm not the social butterfly that gets involved in a lot of things. Amy is helping me along with ideas on how to feature myself in galleries or shops, and I'm doing my best to encourage her to send her work off for publication, too.
I'm hoping this last 5 months of the year brings many good things to those of us who step outside of our comfort zone and just try...just try something new and brave and scary all at the same time. You never know where that road may lead. It leads no where if you don't at least attempt the journey. That's one thing for sure.

Until next time, be good--and be thinking of new ways to enjoy what we have and or save a little bread for Sunday dinner. :)

The Winner Is:

Ta--da, The winner of "Blooming Hearts" print is none other than the darling, talented, super sweet, Misses Kwitty!! Congratulations Karen, and thank you for entering my contest and for leaving such thoughtful comments!!
Please visit Misses Kwitty's etsy shop as well--you will find the sweetest hand sewn and crafted creations!!! ((note to my lovely Sister Becky, have no fear, I will be sending you a prize in the mail as well!!))

MK--please email me your addy so I can send your print off in the mail!


***THANK YOU all for the wonderful and uplifting comments, you've really made my week!***

Almost a year ago--around April 15th I created this little doodle drawing/painting. Wow. I've come along way! I still love color but my direction has really changed hasn't it?

Random review--
Now, check out some of the more recent things I've been doing featured in my etsy shop. I opened the shop in August 2007 with moderate success in the beginning, but around mid February, things have really taken off and I'm am ECSTATIC!! I even received my FIRST special order for bunches of my Sweet HeART magnets last week!! These will be going into a cool store out West (((((yippeee...my first store))).

This year I also joined a local artist group "North Carolina Mixed Media guild"

((hey look, they have one of my pieces featured on the homepage))
Through this club, I've met some great ladies who share a passion for creating, an understanding of the "business of art" and have even made some local connections that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to otherwise. We meet the second Thursday of each month at a cool little store in Raleigh, NC called Ornamentea and share our WIP, tips on creating our projects, and other art business topics.

Another group I joined just a few weeks ago upon it's inception is the Metsy Team. What is Metsy???
(Courtesy of our group Homepage))---hey cool, another feature of my MM painting "Learning to Love" which is now SOLD and heading to her new home in Canada!!!!

Mixed Media Etsy (a.k.a. Metsy) is a group of crafters from around the world that have banded together to promote each other's work. We create using paper, fabric, paint, glue, ink, found ojects, and virtually anything else you can think. The only prerequisite to join is that you have an Etsy store with at least 3 mixed media items. Please tag your mixed media items with "metsy" so we'll be able to find them easily. If you're unclear on what constitutes "mixed-media" here's a definition from wikipedia...

"Mixed media, in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed."

Within this group we will share knowledge, discuss, suggest, support, and promote all things mixed media.

We also have a blog which you have to check out all the links to other fabulous Etsy Mixed Media artist. We are doing our first art challenge this month with the color palette "purple blossom". Items will be tagged at the end of this month upon completion with the tag "Metsy color challenge" so everyone can easily find the items.

On top of all these art escapades, I am still participating in and co-hosting Sweet Goodness Swaps. Our latest swap is going to be a blast---"Spring time in Paris" with a light blue, (or aqua , teal) black, and white color theme. This makes our 6th big swap since our first swap last February with the Pink and Brown swap. Going back to our roots--my partner for this round is the sweet professor and crafter Jen of
Simply Gigi Designs! I had a wonderful time swapping with Jen last year and we have kept in touch when we could over this last year so it's great to be partnered up with her again.
I've have met so many wonderful people this year and what a difference it has made in my life. Like "The Secret" says, thinking about what you want, believing in it, eventually the universe will draw those things into your life like a magnet. As I reflect back on this year--it's hard to deny how so many things in my life are a direct reflection of my new mindset to create and live the artist's way. I've had a lot of inner struggles and one thing my painting allows me to do is to escape those struggles, work through them, and hopefully in the process, I am growing as a person. The other day, I had a little drama going on and about a year ago, I would have lashed out verbally to vent my frustration but today, yesterday--breathing and releasing those negative thoughts and going back and getting my anger and disappointment out on the canvas has me feeling so much better. It's hard to explain but hopefully you can see the growth and how it's helped me.

My new mantra--It's impossible to feel bad when you are thinking good thoughts.
Release it.
Let it go.
You'll feel better.

I do.

You just need to find the release that allows you to do so. That happy place :) LOL

Pretty soon I'll be sitting around on big ole pillows chanting and hooking up with Madonna on the weekends. But that's alright. Life is good.

With That Said

I'm sitting here pretending like I'm a full time artist. Got up at 7:30, thanks to one of my peeps texting me ((my new found technology love since upgrading to unlimited texts...lol), did a little product research ((not that I need anymore products in my arsenal, but what developer doesn't need to research what's going on in the industry)), refined some of my 'product' photos, marketed my wares a bit on some community threads, uploaded pics to my shop, and now I've come to chat a bit with my friends on the blog. Did I pick up a brush yet today? No, but the biz ness side needs to be attended to in the artist's life as well.

Okay so it's not my full time job, but I can pretend, can't I?? I have two days extra off this week. I'm sure my work peeps aren't happy with that but since I was away for so long this month, I needed a work break. Catch my breath, catch up on the cleaning, spend time retooling what ever it is that needs retooling around the palace, then off for some fun this weekend.

About a year ago this month, I really started with my collage/mixed media work full speed ahead. My house hasn't been the same since. Bulging at the seems with supplies, paint and paper every where you turn. I am definitely more at peace with myself since last year. My Sweet HeArt in Pink reflects that mood. Fun and whimsical, yet reflective and appreciative. The month of February has been a turning point over the course of my life in many different areas. It was February when I was almost killed at 14 in a bicycle/car accident...that forever changed my way of thinking. It February that my best friend met her husband when the two of us were out declaring the holiday "Black Friday (Valentine's Day fell on Friday year). 2 of my sister's children were born in February, it was February that I ended my relationship with a great love of mine, it was in February that I decided to truly embrace my art in order to find peace in my life.

So far so good. I can escape and yet do it in a healthy way. I can dream and make those dreams come true. I can have color on the days when it only seems that I can see black and gray. I can see myself grow and share those moments with many many people that I would never have met otherwise.

I hope to come back next February and be able to say I was published in an art magazine, have more and more sales of my work, I hope to say that my day job is still going well and that I have been promoted in some way, I hope to say that a new great love has entered my life in a more positive way, I hope to see my kids happy and content and doing even better in school, I hope that over this year I can get out of debt created from some recent events of the last 2 years, and a house or big move is in the works.
February has always been a turning point for me now that I think about it, but maybe it's just a coincidence. Are there coincidences in life or coincidences merely the hands of fate showing there face more concretely to us??

Well enough rambling for today. I'm off to shower, clean and hopefully I can make it to my favorite thrift stores today or tomorrow. It's been way to long since I've rescued other people's stuff!
With that said,
Enjoy your weekend! It's Friday Eve!

Painted Love

Today's post will not only be about creativity, it'll be about a bunch of my senseless ramblings. Because, that's how I've been feeling this week...pretty much all over the place so sit back and enjoy the read :)

Yes, Virginia, North Carolina does get snow! So for all of you Northerners who wish to escape the snow and bask in our balmy sun---guess again! Heh! At least once a year, the Sandhills seems to prey victim to the sneeze in a Northern bound snow storm. (I made that up not sure what sneeze really means in weather terms). We woke up to this last Thursday--and yep--it was all gone by noon. Not good if your a child and wanted to build a snow man. Would you believe they postponed school the DAY BEFORE the snow was scheduled to hit?? Yep. That's how we roll here! THEN--we get a call at 6:30 am from the school VRU to say, well, it's really not that bad so come on in at regular time. Geesh. Make up your mind. That musta sucked for the kids that had to be on the bus by 6:45 am! Good thing I didn't call the principal, you all could have been hearing me on You Tube this week!

So far as my creativity goes--this is my project for the week. I know, I know-you're supposed to be creative everyday--and I try to be--I've done lots of sketches and a few preps of backgrounds I'll be doing, but this is the only thing I've finished all week. You gotta start somewhere. This painted collage was created on wood--one of my favorite surfaces to paint on lately. Once you have a layer of gesso on, it's easy to manipulate the paint as if it were on canvas. Cheaper, too.

A few nights ago-I had the worse dream. What I remember of it isn't much, but I do recall a dead something or another chasing me--his head was cut off, so sometimes it was the head it chasing me and in other parts of the dream it was the headless bloody body. There was a flood in the dream, too. Scary stuff. I've definitely been drinking too much caffeine lately. I remember trying to save a bunch of people but with the flood coming and the army of dead people lead by this headless guy, it was really beyond saving anyone. What could this mean??

Speaking of haunting--what haunts someone with so much talent, and so much promise that somehow, for some reason, they end up dead from an overdose of sleeping pills (presumably)? I was really surprised and saddened by the death of Heath Ledger--which although he wasn't my favorite actor, he seemed to have so much going for him. What kept him awake every night that he had to turn to sleeping pills and anti-depressants to catch even a few minutes of the ever elusive sleep?? I guess all of us backseat drivers will never know and probably it's none of our business anyway--but it is almost surreal to think about. The moral of the story is that fame and fortune doesn't always bring you peace and happiness.

Speaking of fame and fortune--what about the trainwreck singer, Amy Whinehouse?? Meeshka. The crack smokin shot of her this week just made me shake my head---what is wrong with people??? The talent that is wasted on drugs is just shameful, not to mention the lives that are effected by the conductors of the train! Perhaps her hit song, Rehab was should have been the first hint that all was not well in Amy land? I'm not trying to make light of her 'crash and burn' moment lately, it's really sad to me--I guess because I can truly understand the craziness of it all having experienced being affected by someone controlled by drugs and alcohol, the understanding that there are good people underneath it all makes it all that much more hard to accept--even from a distance.

I think when it comes down to it, happiness doesn't come from things--perhaps it doesn't even come from accomplishments because if you can be nominated for 6 Grammy's and be chosen to be in one movie after another, yet you are still running from your life-- it's obvious it's not what you do or what you have that brings satisfaction and happiness. It's gotta come from within and it's gotta come from you. I'm sure there's millions of people who love Amy and Heath--and that wasn't even enough.
How tragic.

I got to thinking the other day, it's probably good that I'm not famous.
I'm pretty sure there's been a few times I've gone off the deep end or was irresponsible with my kids. I mean, not dangerously irresponsible, but I admit, I've taken them out without hats on in the dead of winter. I'm very sure I don't feed them enough vegetables. I've even gone out on the town--but I have not stripped naked in the middle of a store in the middle of the night while shopping with my posse. There was that time I forgot to zip up my pants at a bar after going to the bathroom one summer night. Only to be told by several Buffalo Bills players that, "Hey baby--I hate to be the one tellin' ya this, but ya zipper be down!"
Had I been famous, I would have definitely been on Entertainment Tonight or on You Tube and perhaps CBS This Morning that next week.
Phew. Thank goodness I'm not.

Nope. I'm just me. Boring really. I mean I get excited now at the prospect of going to Michael's to buy more craft paint. Instead of dreaming of meeting the perfect man at a bar like the old days (LOL...joke), I'm thinking if I DO meet someone new down the road, it will either be at Starbucks or the gas station, because those are the only places I really go besides the already mentioned Michael's. Yeah--chances not good from those choices....lol.
Because I can't afford a therapist to talk to help solve my woes and that which haunts me, I paint, create, and make a huge flippin mess of my house with my crappola. I'm not really sure how I would explain what I've done to my dining room table to a visiting guest (read male). I have a picture of it but that was edited from todays rambles. I can't even explain it to myself let alone anyone else!

Somehow things come together in the end, and it doesn't really need an explanation. I am who I am. Grammy's or not. It's okay really, because I am relatively happy. Could be richer. Could be skinnier. Could be in a positive relationship. Could make sure my kids wear hats in the cold. Could make sure all food groups are consumed in federally recommended ways. Could but I'm not. Could but I don't. It's okay. There's still time for me to change, as long as I don't become famous, don't let my hauntings overcome me, and I don't choose substance abuse over substance.

Okay--enough ramblin's--coming soon--lotsa good mail and hopefully a little more creative notions!

We Win Together, and We Loose Together

Here's a little peak at a (another) WIP I have going for this month. The scan didn't really come out clearly but that's life! I put a coat of acrylic spray on it so the glare from that must be affecting the scanner. Note to self--scan before spray! This piece is going to have some 3 dimensional parts to it which I don't really do a lot of but I coerced a handy carpenter friend into cutting me up many pieces of wood for future projects so some of my mini pieces he cut up for me will be incorporated into this piece. I'm hoping to finish the piece off tomorrow and then after that---everything I make for the next couple of weeks will be for my Etsy shop. I have to buckle down because I haven't added any new art in over a month! I have been working on things, but they've all been for gifts or trades so with almost a month of 2008 slipping by us already--it's time to get busy for the business side of my art.

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In other news, my youngest son started playing basketball in our local town recreation youth league. This is his first time joining a team of any sort, and first time playing basketball with anyone other than me and his brother. Now, I'm no Michael Jordan or anything but some of you may be surprised to know that I can shoot some mean hoops here and there. Mostly there but who's counting?! I actually enjoy playing basketball as a form of exercise! Once it warms up, I think I will play more often because gosh knows I need some exercise! Bleck! I don't want to even go there. Anywhoo--the kids won their first game Tuesday with a score of 18 to 4! It was a total surprise because his team is sorta the Bad News Bears of Basketball and the other team was a more straight laced, organized and tight in their drills kinda crew. We scrimmaged the Saturday before and everyone thought it was going to be a blow out on their part. The exact opposite happened though and it was hysterical! Saturday was the kids 2nd game and this one was more of a nail biter. They didn't win, but it was a very close game, 14 to 10--Josh didn't score at all unfortunately but did do well with defense. As an only child--I think it's especially good he is participating in a team sport. He needs to learn to work with others, not just for himself.

I never played sports in school. I've always worked alone and for myself. Oddly enough, I did become a manager in my career, which in a way is definitely like playing on the team. I wonder if I would have been even better at what I do if I had played on a team growing up??? As I've grown as a manager I've definitely learned that you can't have a superstar on a team and forget about the rest of the team, and expect them to still win. You are only as strong as your weakest person. One person can't and shouldn't row the boat alone--you need to work for the greater good of the group to be successful. It's interesting though, I've found that the more challenges you give your team, the more they rise to the occasion. One thing we go by on our work team is taken from a quote from Coach K--"We win together, and we loose together". No one person should bare the responsibility of winning or loosing--yet so often it does seem to point that way, especially with the media who focuses on the Superstars or the Fumblers. The better person realizes, a team and a group comes to be and exist from all the individual parts-their success or failure doesn't happen because of any one person. I hope Josh learns this as he develops in his basketball skills and his team player mentality. It took his Mama a lot longer to realize it in her life.

I've been thinking about what I'd like to focus on for my artwork in 2008 and I haven't really pinpointed any one theme just yet. However, the team concept is an interesting topic to explore--the realization of how everything we touch is connected in someway in a myriad of ways to a bazillion different things. The chain effect of life. The bigger picture. We may feel alone some days, but we are part of so many different groups (teams), that feeling of aloneness is so unnecessary, if we only open our eyes to it. Connections, our role in this world, the chain effect of our actions, the progression of our development, the ups and downs of that journey--all areas worth exploring. Now to put those thoughts on the canvas. Hmmmm. Dream big, start small.

Have a great week!