My energy is back & I am all over the map- I have 4 color swatches painted 1 foot by 1 foot on my family room wall- it’s spring & time for a color change. I look at all the books, paintings etc. that have to be moved and wonder hmmm..maybe I’ll just live with big color swatches on the wall- its not the painting part- it is the prep- moving stuff, taping off all of the wood etc. that is sooo time consuming!! But by putting the color on the wall I have kind of forced myself into committing to a paint job! I work best under pressure- even if it is only from myself!

I have 3 projects going in the studio- one an assemblage about HOME- home as that place where one is loved, safe, warm- sheltered from the storm; the other a painting about dispelling fear and then a piece about memories which has taken me back on a trip through time. I don’t usually spend much time thinking about the past- in fact I have a little sign above my desk at home that says “Don’t Look Back”. Past is past, no regrets etc. I’ve always felt that looking back pretty much brings up sadness- of kids grown up, grandparents dead, places and friends left behind…but my art piece has to do with really wonderful memories of an annual gathering that we used to do with family and friends & it has been fun to relive them- though a little sad too.

When I was in Hawaii I bought a pendant of a Tree of Life- it made me think that it would be cool to make some pendants from my art images and photos I’ve taken of my folk art collection- I just finished making a bunch that I am selling for $15.00. I have engraved words on the back like dream, love, hope, wisdom, beauty, grace etc.:

and medals too- I love all the ribbons & objects that hang off of military uniforms or those old track medals on ribbons that you can find in flea markets- I thought it would be fun to fool around with making medals for women. I have written affirmations on the back like:”All is Well” etc. :

This is one of my favorites- the woman is from a photo I took of a colonial painting- she looks strong and has a knowing little smile on her face. There is a metal crown piece hanging down that represents inner strength. On the back it says “Life takes care of me in miraculous ways.”

So… though I am a bit over whelmed with all the “To Do”s” I am also really happy that I am back “in” life rather then hanging out on the fringes- thank god for thyroid meds- life does take care of me in miraculous ways!!

The last couple months I have felt really YUCKY- thoughts of cancer tormented me- I felt exhausted, nauseated, achy, foggy and kept gaining weight especially in my tummy- was it ovarian cancer!? …even though I’ve had my ovaries removed- …crazy! I kept thinking it would just go away … I finally saw my doctor a week ago- I called for the blood test results and was told I should make an appointment as soon as possible- cancer?  thankfully no… it is hypothyroidism and easily treatable. I don’t know if it is psychological or not but 2 days on medication & I already feel much better- so, I am back to blogging, art, exercise etc. Hurray!!! I am soooooooooooo grateful for my health!!!

:I have been taking images from my art work

and from my vintage postcard collection:

and my folk art collection:

and a variety of random photos that I have taken:

& making them into 1″ by 1″ images to use in some jewelry that I am starting to make. On the back,I am going to write affirmations with my little engraver – such as: “Joy is Mine”, “I Trust”; “All is Well” etc.

I am making necklace medallions

and badges/medals- here is a “Medal of Courage”:

I am trying to think what to call them- “Affirmative Jewelry” seems too plain. they are sort of vintage, retro, hip, affirmation medallions- any thoughts?

p.s. A secret art project is in the works- that I am not supposed to blog about or show photos of, so even though it is really hard to keep a secret I will.

Tuesday I went to Denver with my Mom & 2 friends to see the Chinese embroidery collection of Pat Dalton. Pat has been taking small groups of people to see & experience the beauty of the textiles & culture of ethnic China for over 30 years. I met Pat at an exhibit of ethnic Chinese textiles at the International Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pat’s enthusiasm and in depth knowledge of these labor intensive, amazing techniques was a joy to experience!! Pat will be leading a couple of tours this year and she says they are the last she will do- so if you are interested check it out!

I visited thinking my primary interest would be the Miao & Dong traditional embroideries:

but came away completely intrigued by the double mirror embroideries on silk- for example this woman is beautifully embroidered on almost transparent silk & then on the backside she looks exactly the same! It is magical- how do they do that!!!?My favorite though, was the back of a woman holding a hand mirror with her reflection in it and on the backside it was the front of the woman with the back side of the mirror visible- wow!!!!

Here is a red crowned crane that had some relief to it:

and it’s reflection in the mirror so you can see the backside:

This is a landscape “painting” that has been embroidered:

And beautiful figures on a Chinese screen made out of a variety of stones with painted details:

I am influenced in my own art work by the “folk” embroideries (the colors, simple shapes etc.):

and “folk” paintings.

I love these beautiful traditional crafts from around the world- it is sad that in so many places the quality is getting poorer or disappearing for economic reasons – the crafts women & men are either having to quit the tradition to get better paid jobs or changing their traditional work into items that tourists will buy- making it quicker and therefore cheaper. I hope that things will turn around, so that people all over the world gain an appreciation for these crafts- embroideries, metal work, carved wood etc. – similar to what has happened for Native Americans here in the United States. The Native American Arts & Crafts in Santa Fe are beautiful and generate a good income for the arts & crafts makers- as it should! This is one way I always justify my buying of traditional crafts when I travel- I am helping to support an economy I believe in!!

After many days of crawling up perilously high stalks of Hollyhocks to chomp on their bitter leaves, while beautiful butterflies danced in the air above her head or daintily sipped flower nectar as she clung on tightly, afraid to fall, the caterpillar finally called out “How does one become a butterfly?” “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” was the reply. “You must be willing to go into the darkest depths & liquefy your very essence before the beauty of your butterfly being emerges into the light.”

This piece is comprised of 5 metal canisters,that come apart to reveal affirmations, colors and elements that relate to their corresponding Chakras. The caterpillar head corresponds to the 6^th Chakra: the Eye of Wisdom or the Inner Eye; and the emerging transformed butterfly corresponds to the final, 7^th Chakra- the Crown Chakra. I chose to use Chakras as symbolic elements in this piece about our path to transformation into a more enlightened being- or just a happier, more balanced human being.

Very simply, a Chakra is a concept referring to whorls of energy permeating from a point on the physical body. Rotating vortices of subtle matter, they are considered the focal points for the reception and transmission of energies. Seven major chakras or energy centers -also understood as wheels of light or color- are generally believed to exist within the subtle body. If you are interested in this concept please do more research because I have simplified the concept greatly.

1. First Chakra: Root Chakra; color: red
   Located at the base of the spine.
   Earth, survival, grounding, stillness.
   It grounds us in the physical world.

Affirmation: I am rooted and grounded in Life. Second Chakra: Sacral Chakra; color : orange

Spleen: Located just beneath the navel, and
related to our sexual and reproductive capacity.
Blockage manifests as emotional problems or sexual guilt.

Affirmation: I am co-creator with the Divine. Third Chakra: Solar Plexus Chakra; color: yellow

Navel; Seat of Emotions. Gives us a sense of personal
power in the world. Blockage manifests as anger or a sense of victimization.

Affirmation: I trust the Divine in me.

Fourth Chakra: Heart Chakra; color: green

Blockage can manifest as immune
system or heart problems, or a lack of compassion.

Affirmation: My heart is softened and filled with love. Fifth Chakra: Neck or Throat Chakra; color: blue

Communication Center; Tied to creativity and communication.
Feels pressure when you are not communicating your emotions properly.

Affirmation: I express myself. Sixth Chakra: the Third Eye; the Eye of Wisdom; the Inner Eye

Color: indigo; center of forehead
Clairvoyance, psychic abilities, imagination, dreaming

Affirmation: I allow myself to see clearly. Seventh Chakra: Crown Chakra; color: purple

Connects you with messages from higher realms.
Spiritual connection, understanding, knowing, bliss, God

Affirmation: I receive inspiration and spiritual illumination this day.

The Butterfly’s “hair”(felted wool) represents the crown expanding out

The metal embossed back side:

About a month ago I was out walking & thinking about 3 close friends & the pain they were all in, in different ways… one with an illness and the the other two with tough stuff in relationships. As i walked, I thought about the few times in my life when I felt I was in the darkest depths of my soul-  which then led me to reflect on how to create a painting inspired by these thoughts & what would it be about? I decided the best thing during these sorts of time is to nurture the soul- so, I created this painting: “Nurture Your Soul, My Dear”.

It has a lot of depth to it- the words “nurture your soul, my dear”  are collaged on the background & then covered with a thick clear gel medium, that was then painted on in areas so that the words do peek through, then there is a layer of painted crackle medium with other images on it and our guardian angels flying around her head.

She is tenderly holding the plant ( represents the soul- meaning shapes seeing) which blossoms in the vintage postcard at heart level.

On the postcard there is the poem:
“In the desert a fountain is springing,
In the wild waste there is still a tree,
And a flower in the old garden blooming
That speaks to my spirit of thee.”

I take the thee to be hope, the light at the end of the tunnel, God.

Yesterday my sister, mom, dad & I went to the Great Western Stock Show in Denver.

I love going with my family because they are the only ones that I know that will spend hours experiencing & enjoying the culture of the Stock Show. It started with the food- my only regret being that I did not leave room for a fried Twinkie or Snickers Bar- food items I have heard of but never experienced-I know it is probably not politically correct but I figure if I am up for trying iguana pizza in Costa Rica, fried grasshoppers in Mexico or guinea pig in Peru why not a fried Twinkie?

First stop- the cow/calf/bull show. The owners spend hours, bathing, blow drying & sprucing up their cows.

They all had Mohawk upper tails with a giant dread lock ball on the end of the tail.

We noticed that the “in” fashion this year was bling bling belts for the women- Project Runway take note!

Some of the bulls were impressive

But it is the chickens I love- each breed is so different- maybe I’ll become a chicken portrait painter:

the greys in this one were beautiful- made me want to try to capture it in paint!

big red combs- I wonder what the evolutionary reason is behind these?

slightly demented:

fluffy like an angora bunny

proud

curious

the look in their eyes not unlike a rehabilitated eagle that was there:

A lot of my world revolves around art & living in a rural area where I see elk, deer, coyotes etc. daily but not farm or ranch animals or people. I am fascinated how we develop our own sub cultures within the general American culture. As artists -in general- we wear more “arty” clothing- brighter colors, hand woven or embellished materials etc. Funky, unusual jewelry… At the stock show we saw mostly cowboy boots, western snap shirts, cowboy hats, blue jeans & the women sporting the sparkly rhinestone belts. Here is a fellow  waiting his turn to show his pig- which is in the pen below him- checking messages, reading a book.

What a fun & interesting day off!!

P. S. There was an awesome western art show there- the Coors sponsored show- I was thrilled to see about 75% of the paintings sold- in price ranges up to $20,000.00!! No picture taking allowed so unfortunately I can’t share any with you.

Joe & I

walked around frozen Estes Park Lake under the full moon, the Blue Moon- quiet, beautiful, romantic. Got the year off to a good start.

I am having fun playing with new – to me- art materials- I laid in a heavy matte medium gel on the gold background of my “Nurture Your Soul, My Dear” painting & textured it with big rubber stamps. Painted some more gold on top then laid in some greens-liked the texture- did not like the color- but now it was deep in the recesses of the texture.

Got out the belt sander & sanded it down- still too gold & green

so laid in some crackle paste last night- you can still see some of the layering underneath- like it! I think I will stain the crackle paste a faded aqua. I am definitely riding the waves of “oh, I really like this painting” and as the wave curls over & crashes down”Oh I really, really don’t like this painting”; the wave starts to rise:” Oh, this painting has possibilities- I think I’ll just PLAY!”

Mostly finished with the Transformation Assemblage:caterpillar into butterfly- don’t know what I will title it- any ideas?  I want to put special totems in the metal boxes-maybe having to do with chakras…

I wish every one a VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY & FUN New Year!!!!!!!

I

After many days of crawling up perilously high stalks of Hollyhocks to chomp on their bitter leaves, while beautiful butterflies danced in the air above her head or daintily sipped flower nectar as she clung on tightly, afraid to fall, the caterpillar finally called out “How does one become a butterfly?”   “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar” was the reply. “You must be willing to go into the darkest depths & liquefy your very essence before the beauty of your butterfly being emerges into the light.”

I am currently working on an assemblage, “How Does One Become a Butterfly?” The head is attached to a series of metal boxes. I plan to keep it so that one will still be able to open the boxes to reveal the secrets inside. What will be the secrets inside?

I wanted the piece to have segments like a caterpillar and decided to make them out of sheet metal with embossed flowers & vines & birds & butterflies on the segments. First I made patterns out of paper to see how it would fit and how to attach them so the boxes would still come apart.

I think of caterpillars as being green so green she is:

Here she is from the front- right now she reminds me of the Virgin de Guadalupe- with her plump caterpillar legs looking like the Virgin’s rays of light:

and from the back:

next I will work on the butterfly emerging from her crown chakra.

wondering what a fabulist is? please see my previous blog.

Does being not attached to outcome nurture my art & soul? One thing I know for sure (nod to Oprah here), is that being with wonderful friends nurtures my soul AND I have a lot of fun observing how attachment versus non plays out every year at the “Non Attachment/Ornament Exchange Party” that I give. Everyone brings a wrapped ornament (and a bottle of champagne & food to share). We count the number of party people in their “la ti da” hats and they draw a number from the magic box. Number 1 goes first, number 2 can pick a new wrapped ornament or take number 1’s, number one then chooses another ornament, #3 takes either #1 or #2’s or chooses a new ornament etc.- there are no limits. Some of my friends spend hours- perhaps days- making an original awesome art piece, other party participants search the globe to bring us gorgeous or interesting ornaments that illicit ooooohs and aaaaaahs… and then there are always a couple of others – hmm… how to put this kindly?- that aren’t quite in the same league- maybe they say “Starbucks” on them or are a broken toy with a jingle bell around it’s poor neck…well, you get the picture. So…you work for days on an ornament that everyone loves and “steals” back forth from each other and when it is your turn you bravely choose a new wrapped ornament (is it better to take one that has already been unwrapped &  that you can see what it is?-attached to the known- or do you imagine that something even better is still in one of those wrapped packages? )- the tension mounts as you peel away the paper and viola- the broken toy…now you know you are out of the game- unless, as often happens, a friend takes pity on you (more attached to your feelings than their ornament) & “steals” your ornament- you are back in the game! Who do you think leaves the party the happiest? – the ones who walk away with the ornament they really wanted & had to collaborate & use strategy with others to end up with after much “stealing” back & forth? or the ones who liked what they got & didn’t have to “fight”over it? or the ones who had the pleasure of bringing an ornament that was well received? or the ones who didn’t really care or put much effort into it?

How does this apply to art work? Years ago I did landscape painting. I bumped up my colors but I really wanted my pieces to look like the landscape I was painting and was really disappointed if I didn’t achieve that. Now I am painting the inner landscape and I do think of visuals that will get across my idea. For example, my current piece is called “Nurturing the Soul”, and I put a lot of thought into what does a soul look like? how would one show the nurturing of it? for me nurturing the soul would be like a mother tenderlyolding her little baby, the soul is like a bulb that blooms into a flower garden and color wise I picture golds with greens for growth and also flower colors. (I’m curious, how do you visualize the nurturing of the soul?) So… I do have a concept of colors & images I want to use, I look for the “right” postcard BUT here is where the magic comes in: I rely on “happy accidents” and inner voices to offer guidance in the direction the painting wants to go and many times it looks nothing like the way I originally visualized it would look. Non attachment to the outcome allows me to explore, play, problem solve, create and that nurtures MY soul and my art!

Here I’ve painted a large nurturing mother figure holding a “bulb” that is a stamp of a mother tenderly holding her child. The “bulb” is blossoming into the postcard- see my previous blog for the saying that is written on the card. The blue is tape that protects the background color of lavender where the postcard will go. I am not sure what is next- I’d like to see flowers, texture…we’ll see.

I was thrilled- positively thrilled- to set up the 1950’s vintage, aluminum, 93 pom -pom -on -the -branch -ends Christmas Tree with revolving 4 color wheel that I got on E-Bay a few nights ago. It is gorgeous- it makes me giggle- it even came in the original box. And the person who sold it to me, Beth, is awesome- check out her site.

Anyway, with a tree like that I feel like it needed a special ornament. As you know, I was influenced by the Bird Women carvings that I saw in Bali & Java from previous blogs. So…I chopped off another doll’s head (actually from my Burning Man Bike) & inserted it on a glittery, real feathered styrofoam bird body. A little more paint, glitter & sequins & viola:

She needed a friend so I created a smaller one:

I turned her Barbie pony tail into a head tuft- fun!:

This one looks a little more serious, intent on being present!

Sunday I will be hosting my 24th annual Ornament Exchange Party- all of my women friends & I wear vintage dresses and hats and gloves, drink champagne and play a raucous numbers game that involves trading i.e. “stealing” coveted ornaments. I call it the “Non Attachment Game”! My little bird woman wants to join in the fun so I think she will be my ornament this year! The thing with being passionately in love with making & altering things is that it spills over into all of life doesn’t it?