Indulge your imagination

Just playing ...

 it's important ...

 to let the imagination roam ...

Still on a digital kick

still on a digital kick ... playing around on a Saturday morning.

"Dance Above"
Background is "torn" pieces from a painted envelope, collaged to a black "substrate". Black splotches are added with a brush. I'm inspired by Frida because she created regardless of her physical and emotional pain ... she kept on making art.

"Yellow Roses on Black and White Doodle"
The doodle is a scan from my art journal, digitized in photoshop elements. The roses are from my yard, multiplied to create a sense of colorful abundance.

"Beauty in Nature"
The background is scanned from an art journal of a few years back. The hydrangea is from my yard. I love how I can add text on a path!

"Emergence"
Same background as one above  digitized (original flower shows on this one). Sometimes I feel like I go into a creative abyss, and when I emerge there is hope of moving forward with my art.

Happy Saturday.

Journaling by 5s latest

So, I finished the first round and decided to do the facing pages as round #2. What I mean by finished is, I did a little marker work for step 5 ... nothing special or significant. I'm definitely not pleased with the pages as they stand. However, I have a "plan" for facing pages so I won't do the "extra" finishing touches on these just yet.

Step #1 Paint - liquid watercolor and neon sprays. Step #2 Collage - napkins and tissue papers. And here is where I went terribly wrong. I put deli paper between the pages as I worked - pages that were wet with glue. 

Lesson learned: deli paper sticks! Really sticks.

So now, not only do I have a bunch of ugly first round pages ... I also have messy ugly 2nd round pages. They were not helped much with Step #3 stamps (no stencils). I'm considering ditching the project. However, that is my modus operendi. And because I'd like to at least try and salvage this book ... I'll proceed to Step #4. I've printed my focal "images" and am ready to go.

Journal by 5s, steps 3 and 4

Step 3 Stamp and Stencil. I somewhat enjoyed it; however really felt time constrained. I mostly used stamps with ink pads. On a few pages I used gesso through stencils. When finished, I fought the urge to go back through with a 2nd round, and forged ahead. After each session I've gone back and dried the pages and glued down anything that needed it. 

I think I "cheated" on Step 4 Imagery and Text. I went through a large stash and cut out more than I would need. Then I stuck the focal image in the page it would go (this took about 10 minutes). I also cut out lots of words but didn't place them ahead of time. So when I set the timer I had my glue stick ready which I used to adhere things quickly. On a couple of pages I switched images but pretty much went with the first layout.  After I got all the images partially adhered, I went back and added phrases or words. I got through the 18 pages in the 15 minute timeframe.

Then I spent time glueing things with a watered down Elmer's glue. I'd used that with step 2. The difference is that in this step, I was using magazine images and words. The wet glue made for lots of wrinkles! About halfway through I switched to soft gel medium which caused less wrinkling. I'm not pleased with the wrinkling and therefore would change this step to basically take 15 minutes to place images on the page, not adhere them. 

Some pages are beginning to take on meaning. Most, however, are open to more. Next step is details with pen, pencil, markers. 

Journal by 5s

So, I happened upon this "challenge" created by Shannon Green and immediately fell into the rabbit hole of distraction by watching many (I mean many!) videos of artists participating in this. The purpose is to do 5 sessions using 10 prompts, each session for 15 minutes (!) on 20 pages (!!). 

5-10-15-20

5 sessions--all in one day or just one a week...your choice.
10 prompts--2 per session, feel free to make substitutions.
15 minutes--that gives you 45 seconds per page so don't mess around!
20 pages--just one side of a sheet of paper, not both sides. 

These are the recommended prompts for each session. You may make substitutions to fit what you have on hand:

Session 1-Background: Paint, Ink
Session 2-Texture: Collage, Recycle
Session 3-Pattern: Stamps, Stencils
Session 4-Focal Point: Words, Images
Session 5-Details: Pen, Pencil

I thought I'd give it a try for several reasons. 1. I'm easily distracted. 2. It looked like fun. 3. It is a way to use up lots of stuff lying around. 4. It's a way to just play, not going for perfection, pushing the critic aside (there is no room for much thought i.e., inner critic discourse, when you are working on 20 pages in 15 minutes. So, after much viewing of what everyone else is doing, I've begun the process.

Here is what I have so far:

Step 1, paint and spray inks, was fun. I enjoyed just picking paint for each page, not thinking about the "future" of that page. Just squirt paint, spread it around with a brush or brayer, move on. I used deli paper between the pages and only got a little tearing. I didn't realize until I was finished that I'd skipped a page, so I "cheated" and painted it. Somehow I only have 18 pages, not 20. That's probably because as I was gluing pages together I wasn't paying close attention to the goal of 20.

Step 2, collage and texture was fun also. However, with only 15 minutes, I was able to add just a little to each page. I'd hoped to use up a larger part of my stash. I considered "cheating" again and going back for a 2nd session of step 2 ... but I've decided not to do that. So I'll let this all dry and prepare for the next step, stamps and stencils.

So far, I like the process. Not impressed with the pages ... but that's all part of the process. Were this not "timed", I'd spend a lot of time on these steps, trying to reach a "pretty" stage. These pages aren't there, and they may not get there. I'm trying out the process of working in stages simply to see how it feels. I've read other artists who follow this type of process, i.e., Diana Trout and Dawn Sokol. So far, it feels good. 


I don't care for the idea of only 1 side of the spread completed. However, I have an idea for what I'll do with the facing page. I would like to have a book that feels "finished" or perhaps ready for journaling. I'll see how it goes.

The quote continues ... 

The fight for free space - for wilderness and public space -
must be accompanied by a fight for free time to spend wandering in that space.'

I'm into a few days of musing ... deciding on my next project(s).

Creating in June Gloom

creating ...

stock from veggies and fruit ...

a painting from scratch ...

It's June Gloom here ... a perfect day to stay in and create.

When all else fails ...

when all else fails, make a book.

 

The pages of this book are painted and collaged/embellished card stock. I was surprised at how well the card stock held up to pushing and pulling paint around. It also held up to adding "stuff" with gel medium and machine stitching.

The covers are painted and collaged chip board (cereal boxes). The spine is duct tape.

This book is dedicated to summer stories. Some old, some present, some future. I've already begun to play in it (which I take as a good sign as there are lots of other books laying around that have not invited me in.)

Is this how I want to spend all my time? No. But for now it will do. Flexing the creative muscle. I'm reading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Laughing out loud! Her message is to show up daily and do the work, especially the s----y first drafts. These just might lead to something good/useful.

So, I'll play in my summer journals and wait for the Muse (i.e., "Real Art" ideas) to come along ... This just might keep me happy for a while.

Surprises

Yesterday I painted and embellished spreads I created on Friday. Something I love about creativity and being in a creative mode is the surprise that occurs when you are simply open to "what if." My first visual journal was titled "Journey into What If" and I still follow that path. Yesterday's path led me to my fabric scrap basket, where I found scraps that I could use on these spreads. Another "creative flow" was having the iron and board already up - so I wasn't disrupted from the flow. Having supplies easily accessible allowed me to stay in the flow.

The addition of fabric scraps adds another personal touch, as do my photographs. I've used only a few magazine images, mindful of copy write issues, just in case I decide to offer these for sale. My photo of a street in Madrid just off Plaza Mayor is one of my favorite pages. The use of my photos was another surprise as I hadn't thought of that and they weren't part of my stacks from which I was pulling to create these spreads.

The gift of the last two days has been the ability to immerse into this project with absolutely no interruptions. On Friday I worked in my pjs, not getting dressed the entire day. Saturday, I had to water out front and go down to the mailbox so I dressed (and bathed :-). These "retreats" are pure joy.

George returns today and we'll have a family BBQ tonight, so it's clean up my stuff, market, generally return to my life. I love my life, but I also appreciate retreat and the opportunity for getting into the creative flow and the fun surprises along the way.

Happy Sunday.

What's the point?

Question: What's the point?

I fill notebooks with words and words and ideas and sketchbooks and scraps of paper and images. What's the point? Do I learn anything about myself with these words? Or do I just feel like I'm doing the write thing.

I put sticky note tabs in books and magazines. For what? So someday I'll return to that book and have time (and desire) to make something?

I now have about 8 collage/artist books that I'm working in. What's the point? Is this real art? Am I learning about design with this practice as I claim to be? Do I even think about design or do I simply slap paint and stuff on the page and move on? Is this an exercise in futility - do I have design talent?

I have unfinished art projects on the design board. For what? They stay there month after month. What good are they doing? Sure, I glance over, but not with time to really see. What purpose do they achieve other than for me to say I have "work in progress?"

I amass art supplies that spill over into my life space. Why? I don't have time to use them. They seem to indicate I'm a "practicing artist", but beyond that, what's the point?

Creativity feeds the soul!

My notebooks are the window to my soul. If I allow myself, I will and can learn more about myself. My notebooks are like a good shrink, only cheaper. They absorb my words and ideas and stand ready to deliver.As do all the books and magazines with their shiny pictures and ideas that inspire me.

My collage and artist books are symbols of some of the challenges I face as an artist. They provide me with a platform upon which to practice. Some pages I like and some I don't - it's all part of the creative process. These books also provide a window into my soul, with visual images rather than words.

My design board reminds me that there is work/projects waiting when I am ready. Eventually they call out and demand to be taken down and completed (or put away). They patiently wait. As do the art supplies. They stand ready to be put into action. They keep me thinking about arting and creating.

That's the point!

A new day dawns

There is something so "fresh" about early morning ... a time filled with possibilities. The brais is (somewhat) clear and ready for new beginnings. Even when sleep was restless, the dawn brings HOPE that the day will be a good one, a fulfilling one, a stimulating one, a restful one ... whatever the hope is. For me, early morning is this ... quiet time, a cup of coffee, time with my thoughts, and this age-old tradition of journaling.

This process releases anxiety and worries, if only for as long as I write. Meditative in nature, it is a way to focus and channel my thoughts and give them a space to be heard and honored.


As I look around, I am connected to creativity and possibility. Stimulated. Or frustrated if I cannot pursue what my hearts yearns to pursue that day. But even in my frustration, I am at peace, momentarily, with the world and my place in it. I am re-connected to those that came before me and those that will come after. Reconnected in HOPE and POSSIBILITY and CREATIVITY. Honoring the creative process, I return from my meditative thoughts and enter the day with energy and thankfulness for having connected with the SOURCE of new ideas and new beginnings.

Magic and Surprise of Creativity

"... the truest thing one can say about creative work, in whatever field, is that there is an element of magic in it."

~Henry Miller

This quote resonates with me. I am continually in awe of the 'end product' of a piece of art that started with a blank piece of paper, canvas, or fabric. As I worked yesterday, even working from a sketch, there was magic in the process, and surprise that what developed wasn't exactly as sketched/planned. I'm working on the design wall, cutting shapes and pinning them before fusing or sewing. It's like magic to see how colors interact (or don't), and magic that moving a piece from one place to another creates something better or more aligned. The surprise of finding a paper collage in my 'mystery bag' that became flowers instead of the intended fabric. This bag was started when I was cleaning up one day and put the stuff I was using in it. It has grown to include lots of stuff; I even found art materials I'd purchased early in December in the bottom of the bag. The mystery is why things are sorted in plastic bags; apparently there was some ideas when they were put away. For now, the bag is fodder for the imagination. I started to pull everything out and put it all back into the 'formal' storage units (fabric, paper, embellishments), but decided to keep it as a sort of element of magic and surprise. The paper flowers that emerged yesterday may be the element of surprise in this fabric art piece ... but only time will tell because who knows what else will present itself?

Making art versus writing about creativity

As I review the year, I realize how little art I made. That is because this year was dedicated to another kind of creativity – writing.

Valentine's card for my husband -- clearly influenced by the classes I've taken with Lesley Riley

My 2008 art goals were to do a generational quilt and another large scale “house” quilt. I also had the goal to fill up art journals with “inner art.”

A page from my art journal -- "Emergence"

In June I wrote,
I Want To …
- Fill up art journals
- use up my art supplies
- create daily
- doodle
- let my inner child play
- locate the inner create source and Immerse

Getting at that inner source of strength

In July, I questioned “Why Am I Not ‘Arting’?” My responses:

I have nothing to “say”
No. I want to create a generational story quilt.
No. I want to create a quilt that depicts an art colony.
No. I want to fill up art journals.

I have no more wall space
No. I can always rotate art on the wall.
No. There is always room for an art book.
No. There is room for my art on other people’s walls.

Writing is my creativity now.
Yes. Writing is creative. I do feel creative now.
No. Writing is one expression. It doesn’t need to be the only expression.
No. writing about the creative process is not the same as living the creative process.
Yes. However, I am living the creative process through writing the book – the entire process with ups and downs, delights and despairs. Writing as a form of arting takes me into and through all the good and bad as does making visual art.

I fear submitting my art.
Yes. Now, you’re getting real. If you make more art, you’ll need to find an outlet.
Yes. It is time to take your art “seriously” especially is you are going to coach artists!
But I’m not going to coach artists – I’m going to coach business people on creativity.
Yes, however let’s say they decide to do your creative explorations – at some point they surface and share the treasure!

I don’t have time.
Yes. True, you’ve been busy writing.
No. You have SIX WEEKS when you return [from this trip] – plenty of time to pick up an art project and work on it. Even if you get it to a good point where a once-a-week art day will move it forward …
No. There are unfinished projects that will take little time to complete. One small step – create labels for finished work. Another small step – photo work and blog it. Another small step – ask Odile for her photographer’s name and make an appointment.

I enjoyed working with scraps and hand beading

In July, I committed to a week of “completion” saying, “That would actually feel great!” Responding to a coaching course lesson, I wrote, “I seem to experience creating as either writing or ‘arting.’ As a result, five weeks have passed with lots of writing and no arting. I’ve made no progress with completing UFOs. The most important change [I need to make] is to incorporate both – either both into each day or days dedicated to one. I’m not sure which will feel comfortable. But I am setting a goal to dedicate one of my remaining weeks to completing major pieces that have been sitting unfinished for a long time. That week I’ll combine writing and arting into each day, still saving important play time – important to remind me this is summer break.” My goals for the remainder of summer were to 1) complete UFOs, 2) do a series of “fragments” pieces, 3) postcard size house series, generational quilt.

This is a major completion ... I'd planned to submit this but chickened out. Maybe in 2009?

On August 6th, one of my “to do” items was “Begin to organize art supplies.”

Throughout the year I was writing a manuscript on the Creative Leader. I stopped writing that in September. And started a blog dedicated to coaching the creative process. Meanwhile, there was no time to make art.

This was influenced by the classes I've taken with Odile Nicolette. It is one of my favorite for 2008.

You get the picture.

This was done right around the election -- a time of renewed hope

Early in December, I pulled out some painted lutradur and fabrics and made the three pieces for my family. That led to the book tags for my book group, and journals. Then I put up a piece of timtex on my “design wall” and sketched shapes and a design. Then I did the small wonky village piece. Yesterday I ironed all my remaining fusing stuff to fabrics for this piece I’ll start today. I’m ending the year feeling good to be “back in the art saddle.”

Collections

Over the years I have been a collector. My first collection was Salem cigarette boxes that I used to decorate the walls of my room (looking back, I have no idea how my mother allowed this creative freedom!) Plates, pens, planners, what I called the 3P’s, for years were an obsession. Today my collections are:

• Plates – I have approximately 8 sets of dishes; my newest collection is Fiestaware.


• Clocks – 1 standing grandfather, a wall grandfather, several small clocks.


• Pens – colored and funky design along with “good” i.e., writing instruments.


• Books – decorating, art, and a large pile of “books for future reading.”


• My grandparent’s 50th anniversary gold-rimmed dishes and glasses; not a collection, rather an inheritance.


• Buttons – my mom’s old button box, buttons from flea markets, buttons from old clothing …


• Shells – shells I’ve gathered and shells I’ve been given and shells I’ve purchased.


• Candle holders – I love candles but I think I love candleholders more.


• Mugs – along with the mugs and cups/saucers from the sets of dishes, I have lots! of mugs, way too many for a household of two!


• Dolls – a childhood doll, and a nice collection of “ethnic” dolls.


• Birdcages and birdhouses – my first ‘arting’ was painting and collaging unpainted birdhouses that I picked up at Michaels.


• Ceramics – pottery, vases, pitchers
  
• Journals and blank books – funny how I write all the time but some of these blank books don’t draw me in, maybe the paper is to ‘precious’.


• Art supplies – glues, paints, brushes, pastels, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, gel pens, paint pens, fabric (phew, do I have fabric!), thread, papers of all kinds, magazines, ephemera of all kinds, photos (actually not enough), images, beads, “stuff” i.e., embellishments.

What do you collect? What do you think collections tell us about ourselves? How do our collections inform our creativity and our art?

Affirmations

In a posting on June 5th, I posted some defeating self-talk. So, what affirmations can I use to combat this?

· I can handle this. I've written books before ... I can handle it.
· I trust the process. The creative process, that is. As I write about it, I am living it and I trust it.
· I am capable and qualified. I have credentials to write this stuff, including a dissertation on creativity!
· I am doing good things. I am making a difference in the lives of my students.
· My work matters. I have something to contribute and it matters.
· I accept myself. I accept all aspects -- the good, the bad, the ugly.
· One step at a time. First things first.

As I embark on coaching for creativity, I find myself being coached and supported. This feels so good, so energizing. I see the importance of having a supportive community as we create. Blogging is one aspect of this community. I find myself, when deeply entrenched in the actual work, not taking the time to blog or visit my favorite artist's blogs. I suppose this is all part of the process, however, I feel like I've missed out on what you all have been doing. And because I'm not creating visual art right now, I don't feel I have much to share. I do have one or two pieces of completed work that I haven't yet photographed ... I'll do that soon and post the pics.

Meanwhile, I am really curious about your creative process -- the call to create, the challenges you face, the treasures you find along the way ... I'd love it if you would share your thoughts on this. Perhaps we can strike up a dialogue that would support one another along the creative journey??

Self defeating talk

Today I battle self-defeating inner thoughts. On the brink of writing about creativity, I feel I don’t have one ounce of creativity now, never have had, never will have. I feel like such a fake. Why? I’ve been creative all my life. I earned a doctorate studying creativity. I teach creativity and support others on their creative journey. Why do I feel like I have no right to write about this?

I’m currently reading Eric Maisel’s Coaching the Artist Within, in preparation for taking his coaching course. He talks about noticing anxious self talk. Ok, I’m noticing it, big time. Here are some of the ways I muddy up my mind:

I’m not ready. I don’t have enough data. I haven’t read enough books. I haven’t talked to enough people about the creative process. I haven’t yet taken this coaching for creativity course.

I don’t feel like it. Today I don’t feel like writing. So I’m writing this blog. And reading another book.

I don’t feel well. Having just had minor outpatient surgery two days ago, I am allowed to say I’m not yet at full speed. Yet, yesterday, the morning after my surgery, I wrote a wonderful outline for the book!

I can’t think straight. No, I can’t use this excuse because the anesthesia has worn off and I’m thinking clearly right now.

I can’t do it. Today I don’t feel like I can do it. Yesterday I did. Hopefully tomorrow I will know I can do it.

I don’t know what to say. I don’t know where to start. I don’t know how to start.

I can’t see the point. Who will want to read this anyway? Isn’t this just to amuse myself?

It feels too difficult. Much easier to write this blog about this stuff than do the real work.

What’s happening here? It’s summer break … I’m supposed to be ready to write.

I do better with … summarizing other people’s work than writing my own stuff.

Yes, but … I should just sit and write today but there’s always tomorrow.

Next step is to dispute these self-sabotaging thoughts. And substitute new, useful thought. Maisel offers these affirmations as thought substitutes.

I am fine just as I am.
I am off to create.
I trust my resources.
I am not worried.
I am perfectly okay.
I can handle this.
First things first.
I accept myself.
I am capable and courageous.
I have everything I need.
One step at a time.
I am ready.

He suggests we create two or three affirmations of our own to use when we have these self-defeating thoughts. I’ll let you know what mine are? What are yours?

Creative Process

I'm spending a great deal of time these days focused on the creative process. As I (re)immerse myself in the creativity literature, I'm (re)minded of the passion I felt while I was studying in my doctoral program. The creative process -- individual, group, and organization -- has (re)emerged for me as I begin to prepare for the journey into retirement. So, I'll use this blog from time to time to discussion of the creative process. So, here is one activity that is helpful for people who don't think they are creative.

Describe a time when you were creative, when you brought something new into the world, something that didn’t exist before.

I’ll use an original piece of art as my example.

The idea can come from anywhere. Women Gathering is a theme that emerges for me, connecting my social/political belief that if women gathered, they would be able to solve many of the problems that exist in our world. Peace is also a theme that resonates with me; as an anti-war believer, peace, peacefulness, peace-making are alternative responses.

Influenced by Maya Angelou’s poem, Amazing Peace, I imagined women from around the world gathering to read the poem. The women are represented by colorful fabric and paper, cut in triangle shapes (delta, the symbol of change). Fabric, beaded cones represent ceremonial headdress for this important gathering. I saw these women gathered around a fire pit; in other imaginary scenes, they stand at a body of water. Heavily textured and painted paper with sand and eggshells and beads became the medium to represent a fire pit and surrounding area. The talking stick represents the dialogue process. Selections from the poem are printed and glued around the rim. Voila! An abstract that tells my story.

Describe your process and the feelings at the various stages of creation.

Excitement at the idea generation stage, high level of energy. The preparation stage also was high energy and excitement. The incubation stage was also fun -- lots of sketches and thoughts without any actualy work being done on the piece. With the implementation stage came diminishing excitement. Frustration took over – how do I do it? Why isn’t this coming out the way I see it? Portions of the implementation stage were fun, like learning how to make the beads. Anything that involves learning a new technique – research, try, do – is fun and exciting for me. Fear is also present – what if it’s ugly? What if I can’t do it? The critic is very present towards the end of the project. With this piece, when I attached the talking stick, the final element, I felt relief and joy. I could see my story.

Then sharing brought fear, anxiousness, only minor fun and joy. I shared it as my final project for a collage/mixed media class. Everyone else’s was so great! Why didn’t I think of that? However the feedback was wonderful – they loved it. They got it. Some sort of look at it and say, "That's pretty. What is it?" When I begin to tell the story, some "get it" while others sort of wander away ...

So, how do I feel about the piece today? I see technical things I’d do differently. But I love it because it is truly an original piece that represents my story.

Create daily

OK, so you only have 10-20 minutes in your day to create … what can you do with short periods of time and still feel like you have included creativity in your day?

• Art journal page
• Take photos and upload to your computer
• Play with photos on your computer
• Embellish something
• Doodle
• Add color to a blank page using whatever medium is handy
• Blog surf your favorite artists
• Click your way to a web site you haven’t visited
• Add art images to your electronic image journal
• Add hand stitches to a project
• Add machine stitches to a project
• Add beads or buttons to a project
• Take a walk and photograph what you see
• Image Journal about your walk
• Add images to your image journal
• “Quickie collage”
• Organize your stash of …
• Clear off your workspace
• Pull your favorite materials out and have them ready
• Do something with your favorite materials, anything
• Take the next step on an existing project
• Sketch and journal ideas for a new project
• Collect sample images, colors, fabrics, etc for a new project
• Spread your favorite fabrics on your workspace
• Play with these fabrics, perhaps putting colors together you normally wouldn’t use
• Spread your favorite papers on your workspace
• Mix with your favorite fabrics
• Play with this mixture of paper and fabric
• Surf the Internet looking for supplies and journal ideas for new projects

That’s the start of my list … what do YOU do when you only have a few minutes?

Here's what I've been up to ...

Work, work, work! Our semester ended right after the holiday and I ended up with over 1000 pages to read and grade. That kept me “Housebound” for several days.


Naturally when that chore was finished, I felt “Free”. Phew!




That’s the part of teaching that I really hate, except for the brilliant papers – they’re a joy to read. Actually the reading isn’t the issue, it’s the grading. I do wish we had an educational system that didn’t rely so heavily on letter grades!




As I mentioned in my new years blog, I want to do more “soul art.” So I am working mostly in a journal, with art just for me. “Emergence” is an example.









I’m also trying haiku ... which I know very little about. I wrote several for Emergence:

Sun shines on flower
symbol of beauty in life
beauty shines in me.

At dawn, the seeds grow
into blooms for the morning
to awaken to.

If we are lucky,
the early morning music
enters our being.

My morning journal
the seeds of ideas grow
creating my day

Working in a journal is very freeing. I don’t have to worry if the piece is “good” because it’s in a book for my eyes only (unless I choose to share.) I don’t have to think about it going up on the wall or if so-and-so will like it (or “get” it.) I can just play. I am enjoying playing with oil pastels – I love the way they blend. I don’t love how long they take to cure because I’m quite impatient. But it’s fun to work with this medium that I haven’t explored previously. I’m also enjoying working with collage again. Hunting through my stash of images and creating something … it’s good exercise and fun. And you never know what will emerge.

Now it is time to work with one of my favorite symbols, the heart. Here is a sampling of cards I am sending.



Superbowl Sunday was a day of art for me. It was rainy and we weren’t going anywhere. So I played around with some painted lutradur, fabric, paper, angelina fibers, beads, buttons and machine and hand stitches … I’m calling it “Night Blooms.” I’m not sure if it’s complete yet …

Love Lists!

I absolutely LOVE making lists … (checking them off is another thing :)

2008 GOALS
As New Years day is my birthday, it’s always a good day to set goals

• Create group discussion, art around Angeles Arrian’s “The Second Half”
• “Soul Art"
• Art Quilts: 4 Generations; Neighborhoods of Color
• Develop proposal for sabbatical
• Walk regularly
• Develop OD course for online delivery
• Buy a new mattress
• Babysit Sydney once a month (sleepovers)
• Eat more vegetarian
• Small dinner parties
• Financially prepare for retirement
• Travel to Spain or Alaska and Philly and Idyllwild and ???
• Be open to new experiences

Things I LOVE:

• Early morning, coffee, fireplace, journal
• Yellow roses on Christmas day
  
• Walking in the park
• A glass of wine with dinner
• Seeing students “shine”
• Sydney’s face – all her expressions



• Books lying around, ready to be read

Getting in bed at night
Naps in the afternoon

• A new journal
• Art days
  
• Stay at home in PJs days
  
• Making soup
• Coming home to a freshly cleaned house
• Velvet
• Red
• Putting paint/color on paper
• Mimi’s restaurant
• Experimenting with art
• Designing/creating a new class/course
• Teaching (except for grading papers)
• The smell of a new car
• Reading blogs
• Going to museums
• Traveling – pretty much anywhere
• 4 day weekends with no papers to grade and no plans
• 10 weeks of summer
• My work schedule (except when I have to go to meetings and grade papers)
• Reading cookbooks
• Watching General Hospital
• Yellow
• A new piece of jewelry
• Reading personal journals
• My bookgroup discussions (most of the time)
• Planning a new art project
• Touching art or touchable art or art that invites touching
• Magazines that I can tear up
• Reading excellent student papers
• Inspiring movies
• Good soup
• Movie dates with Matt
• Snuggling with George
• Filling a page with a list

So … what are your hopes for 2008? What do you love?