Everything Aqua Blue

Last October, my friend Deena gave me a gift for my birthday and informed me that the gifts would continue throughout the year...about every two months! So yesterday, I received yet another gift: A gold bag with everything Aqua blue...one of my favorite colors. I love it all and can't help but wonder how these stones, beads, buttons and all will find their way into my life and art. The socks I will wear tomorrow!

Studio: I've been framing and will be dropping off two pieces for an upcoming show/event. The local paper's headline: "Wild At Art " More than 400 artists unite in a stunning county-wide exhibit where assemblage meets collage. Galleries, museums are all participating. My work was juried into an Art League Gallery and the opening will be in March. This time I will take my camera!

Finding Sunny Days

Last Friday the weather report called for the last sunny day as a storm was coming in for Saturday and Sunday. Pablo and I filled the gas tank, stopped for an egg, potato and cheese burrito and drove ourselves down Hwy 1. Our first stop was a new Micheal's craft art store where I walked the aisles and picked up odds and ends. My favorite "find" was "Miracle Sponges" thinly compressed cellulose sponges, that expand when wet. What does that mean? I can cut my own shapes while it is flat...squares, circles and then use as a stamp when wet!! The total purchases came to $68 but I had a $25 gift card so I joyfully hauled my loot to the car.

Next we drove over to Carmel Beach to enjoy the sunset and breathe in some of the freshest ocean air. At the beach there were 7 big panel trucks filled with equipment and a film crew. Pablo nosed around but couldn't find out the movie, he did find out what the caterer was serving the crew..delicious looking steak with linen tablecloths on paper plates. We drove on to other scenic roads and then decided on clam chowder at the wharf...rich and creamy!

It's raining on and off as they predicted and I'm sure glad we grabbed the opportunity to spend a sunny day together...easy conversation, laughter and love. Tomorrow I will try out those sponges!

This afternoon we are going to a small Oscar party. I haven't kept up with the movies this year but I'm willing to see the beautiful gowns. She will be serving turkey chili with cornbread so it should be fun and cozy sitting around the TV.

Art on my wall!

I have plenty of ready to hang art and I change it around according to mood and sometimes season. This is "Sacred Vessel 8" from a series I did on sacred vessels. It is encaustic and measures "12x12",wax, paper collage and vintage buttons from my grandmother's button and trim box. This piece was the result of my first class on encaustic and I was learning how to paint with the wax, and use the heat gun etc. I have done very few encaustics, not because I don't like working with the materials but because I need to work outside and it's either too cold, too windy or too hot...maybe this summer.

I decided to take this 3min. meme I found over at Leslie's, textures shapes and color. Perfect for me today...no deep thoughts, just quick responses. Try it!

1.Where is your mobile phone (cell)

car

2.Your significant other?

coffeehouse

3.Your hair?

long

4.Your mother?

Heaven

5.Your father?

Heaven

6.Your favorite?

both

7.Your dream last night?

compelling

8.Your favorite drink?

Chai Tea

9.Dream/goal?

art

10.Virtue?

Fair

11.Hobby?

gardening

12.Fear?

money

13.Where do you want to be in 6 years?

alive

14.Where were you last night?

home

15.Something that you aren't?

mean

16.Muffins?

Blueberry
17.Wish list item?

vacation

18.Where you grew up?

California

19.Last thing you did?

paint

20.What are you wearing?

sweats

21.TV?'

evenings

22.Pets?

no

23.Friends?

many

24.Your life?

grateful

25.Your mood?

positive

26.Missing someone?

sister

27.Car?

PT Cruiser

28.Something you're not wearing?

mascara

29.Your favorite shop?

discount

30.Your favorite color?

aqua

31.When is the last time you laughed?

morning

32.Last time you cried?

Saturday

33.One place that you go to over and over?

beach

34. One person who emails you regularly?

Dona

35.Your favorite place to eat?

Nuevo's

Happy Valentine's Day!

Leonard Cohen "Dance Me To The End of Love"

This is my first time to post a video and I won't bore you with the details but I will just say I had some struggles finding the video that worked for me and then struggled to post it. For me, this video combined with Leonard's voice is a wonderful combination for Valentine's Day...romantic, sad, sexy and true...Enjoy!

Pablo and I are exchanging cards, possibly with a personal note. We will drop in on an opening in the early evening of a group show where I have one of my "Oasis" pieces hanging. Little smiling, little snacks and maybe some photos. We plan on a quiet dinner at home. I will wear something red! ha

Bits, Slivers and Slices

One of the good things and one of the bad things about painting on foam core is that you can cut it into any shape you would like. This was once a 10"x10" piece but after working and slicing off bits, it is down to 6"x6" and I have decided to quit. I can't remember all the materials: satin, paper, acrylic, ink stamps, ribbon and cheesecloth to name a few. Some materials were just cut off! Sorry about the tilted photo. I'm not complaining, I'm in the studio and working and experimenting and I know it's all leading me to new art .

Tomorrow is President Lincoln's birthday and I wanted to share these powerful remarks. Carl Sandburg spoke before Congress in 1959, on Lincoln's sesquicentennial: "Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on Earth who is both steel and velvet, who is as hard as rock and soft as drifting fog, who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect." Happy Birthday President Lincoln.

My World in the the letter C

I asked Jeane of ARTIT for a letter and before she had a chance to send it to me...I knew it would be a C. It's a funny family thing... the women in my family always get the best parking spots, always know who is calling before we answer the phone, little stuff like that, it's rather fun. I enjoyed thinking of c words, wonderful, sexy c words as well as some that just slide over your tongue, some that make you smile. Here is my very short list of c words:

Bad : cruel, critical, curt,cringe, crazy, contempt.

Good: collage, cosmetics,curiosity,

courage, crazy, conscious, creative, color, cloud, chocolate.

If you would like me to give you a letter, just ask!

Talked with Florie about her guest appearance and all the wonderful comments she has received and she said she would go online and read them all. Thank you. I will report back later this week on her reaction! She has a card line that is in specialty stores and has spent a good deal of her time preparing and participating in the county Art Studio Tour. Next month we have been juried into a "Collage & Assemblage" show and I will take my camera to the opening!

I had a great weekend...the rest I needed. Saturday, I spent the afternoon having an in the house "spa" day. Sunday, quiet, reading...pure peace. Out to dinner last night with a little champagne...perfect weekend.

Blue Sky's Guest Artist

I thought it would be fun having a guest artist show and talk about her work and process. Please leave comments or questions for Florie and I will pass them on!

"Which Way To Go" canvas, acrylic measures "20 x 20".

The paintings in this series were inspired by a time of great transition in my life. I began my journey at Chincoteaque, the home of wild ponies. These ponies became the natural symbol to represent my thoughts and feelings at the time. Florie

I love this piece, the form, the drips, the ladder and that amazing darkness!

It's going to be a rainy weekend........ After deep cleaning the house on Saturday morning, I plan on curling up and reading and relaxing. It is so easy for me to always be in the "doing" of my life so I think I'm now getting a clear call to quiet down and enjoy the "being" of my days which will include, this stack of books, writing, napping and plenty of hot soup...enjoy your winter weekend!

The 4th Photo, 4th File and 4 Tags!

There is very little rhyme or reason to my files and folders, you might say it is a little dangerous or at best mysterious opening any of my files. As far as I can tell this is the 4th photo in the 4th file.

I have been tagged by Jo at Mystory and after I share this little 4th beauty I will tag four unsuspecting bloggers to do the same!

This was a photo taken several winters ago.The beach was littered with flotsam and jetsam and half the village was down at the beach to see what had washed up during the storm. Plenty of people as myself had their cameras out, others were picking through the logs and some building free standing sculpture...there was a festive feeling and the chatting and story telling was in full swing! I've lived in other towns and cities but this one always leaves me with a wonderful sense of connection and community. I remember it was cold out but I was so warmed by the sights and sounds.

Now it is my pleasure to tag these bloggers to show us their 4th photo from their 4th file and then tag four others:

Willow at Life at Willow Manor

Jeane at ARTIT

Starlene at Return to Myself

Tangobaby at Tangobaby

Superior Scribbler Award

I have seen this award around Blogland and thought it was special and now (my good luck) Cynthia of Oasis Writing Link has awarded me this award! I am to pass this on to five others who I have found to be thoughtful, creative and most importantly entertaining...easy job here in Blogland. This is always fun for me to receive and then to pass them on but let me say this: If I pick you and it's not your "thing", I understand and if I pick you and you are way too busy, I understand.

Here are my pics:
San at A life with a View

Kim at Creating Space

Suki at paint, poems and ponderings

Babs at OFF THE WALL ART

Patti at WELCOME TO MY UNIVERSE

RULES: 1. Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most deserving Bloggy friends. 2.Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award 3. Each Superior Scribbler must link to Scholastic Scribe, which explains The Award. 4. Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, will be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives this Prestigious Honor.5.Each Superior Scribbler must post these links on his/her blog.