Velvet Painting & A Blogging Friend

My mom, Heather, moved into her new home today. For the past 3 years this St. Bernard painting on velvet has been hanging in the garage of her old home - a rental. This artistic gem belongs to the landlord. For three years, my mom has looked at this every time she got in, or out of her car. No doubt it drove her crazy! It doesn't belong to me, but I had a strong urge to take it. It makes me chuckle - so hideous it's glorious. :)

My fun news...

I have a new blogging friend! Her name is Jean.
She is a writer, a knitter, a mother of 4 grown kids, a wife, a business coach...
I envy her knitting skills and marvel at the fact she has written 8 novels.

Jean is my first in-the-flesh blogging friend. We met in the Ontario airport.
While waiting for a flight, I had my iPod stuffed in my ears and my nose stuffed in a copy of Artful Blogging. Jean, thankfully, struck up a conversation.

"Do you blog?" she asked.
"Why yes, I do," I answered, but felt all swoony as if I was some dainty Southern Bell.
Wow! A fellow blogger - in the flesh!

We chatted all the way to Arizona.
Four days later, on my flight home, there was Jean again! The chances!
We chatted all the way back to California.
FUN!

New Paper Doll

Listen
and attend
with the ear
of your heart.

-St. Benedict

Chloe - 1995

This is one of my favorite photos of my daughter, Chloe.
She is 18 months in this picture. She already adored books, and still does to this day.

I love the combination of Big Girl and Baby Juiciness.
The green scribble marks on her legs make my heart break - in a good way though.

Chloe is a senior this year. If you are willing to pay the insane amount of $200, you can have a Senior Page published in the year book. They are filled with embarrassing baby photos and letters of love, adoration and congratulations from parents. Her dad and I decided to go for it.

This past Sunday, Chloe's dad came over and together they went through the photo albums, pulling the ones they wanted to use. When I returned home, Chloe handed me a stack of pictures of her, ranging from ages 2 to 5. I flipped through them. My heart broke.

Where does the time go?
It is all so beautiful and glorious.
It is all so tenderly heartbreaking too.

Love.

My posting has been sporadic in the past several months. Noelle of The Angel Wears Fins was kind enough to ask if I have been ill. Rest assured - all is well. I will be out of town for the next few days. See you all Monday!

Reweave The Days

If I could reweave the days
I would choose a gentle cloth
and threads of forgiveness

I would weft for self love
and weave my way closer to you

I would stitch a pocket to hold the pain
and a hem to hold the Mystery

If I could reweave the days
I would stitch the night closer to yours
and reach my hand out to hold

I would weft acceptance and weave devotion
as I prayerfully tie knots in the golden thread
of our days

My Love Affair

Something you may not know about me: I have a secret love affair with school buses. I love them!
I will admit I didn't always like riding the bus, but I do have sweet memories.
I love the way they sound.
I love the giant wipers that would swing wildly on rainy days.
I love the metal seats.
I love the stop sign that flips out when letting kids on and off.
As a little girl in Colorado, I loved the warmth and safety of the bus on a cold, snowy day.
I love school buses - new and old.

Please forgive me for not announcing the winner yesterday as I said I would
The winner of a Liver & a Lover is:
Dan Gurney of A Mindful Heart.

Have a good weekend everyone!
I am off to my grandma's 85th Birthday Party!

Wanna Win a Liver?

A couple of years ago, I was telling a friend that I didn't just want to be a writer or dancer or lover - I wanted it all...
I wanted to be a LIVE-R!
Then we both laughed hysterically because I realized what I had just said.

These tiny 2 x 2 inch drawings were actually drawn 2 years ago.
I call them LIVERS & LOVERS.

Wanna win these?
Leave me a comment.
Tomorrow morning (Friday) I will pick a random name and they are yours!

Bread and Stories

she enjoyed her bread

but she made sure

to share some with her friend

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

My daughter likes to hear about the night she was born.
Last night, for about 15 minutes we sat on my bed and I went through the whole series of events.
And I am honest as possible - even sharing about my excitement, my fear...my anger and bewilderment, but always ending with my love.

I long to provide a safe place where women can share their birth stories:
the excitement and fears
the anger and bewilderment
the joys and the sorrows

It is an intimate story that needs to be told.
It is a story that sometimes people don't want to hear.

I will listen. I am sure there are other women out there that would too.
And maybe we could color and paint while we are at it!

Some Paths

Today my daughter turns 17!

























This morning I sat down before this piece of water color paper that I had gently painted yesterday - just a square of color. I took my pen and saw the wee figure. Once he was revealed I added the rest.

Then the thought came to mind: some paths we walk alone.
How fitting.

My daughter enters the age where she has to start walking paths alone.
As her parent I have to trust, even if there are heart-threads that want to cling.

There are paths I have to walk alone, too.

Grace comes and even if walking alone we don't feel lonely.
For this, I am most grateful.
And it is this I wish for my daughter on her birthday.

New Drawing & A Quote

The thoughts that come to us

are worth more than the ones we seek.

-Joseph Joubert

Candy Cigarettes

she loved a good, blustery day

they reminder her of

childhood memories -

candy cigarettes

fancy ladies

and Betty

Little Books

Monday afternoon, I hit up the new used bookstore in town. What treasures I found!
The first book, She Loves Me... She Loves Me Not... speaks for itself as I am a sucker for anything written and/or illustrated by Maurice Sendak. It wasn't until I got home and read the back panel of the jacket that I discovered who the author, Robert Keeshan is. He's Captain Kangaroo!

The second book is a Hallmark Edition of The Lord is My Shepherd, illustrations by Betsy Clark!
I adored Betsy Clark when I was little. Her illustrations were so sweet and sad - all those little ragamuffin girls. I believe I use to have a copy of this exact book. It thrills me to have a copy again!









































Speaking of ragamuffin girls...that is me on the right in the faux-patchwork nightie and scraggly hair. Ha! You can see why I would be attracted to Betsy Clark's drawings.
This also happens to be one of my favorite photos of me, my sister, and brother.
It's my brother's birthday today.
Happy Birthday, Cam!

Heart

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

-Confucius

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

My heart will smile first, then my eyes and my face.

-Paramahansa Yogananda


Artwork - 1 square inch on 2.5 x 3.5 inch paper.
Pen and water soluble oil bars.

For A Wonky Monday

keep watching

you never know where love

will start to grow


My daughter and her friends made a hilarious video using
dinosaur finger puppets. I hope to post it soon.

Another video I like is Todd's video on softies. With basic sewing skills, a passion for felt and the desire and willingness to try something new he just does it!

Jump & Clap

It is time for more celebration!
I have achieved my goal.
My shop selling my art, paper dolls and garlands is...
OPEN!!
Click on the Etsy widget on the right or
simply CLICK HERE.

Thank you!
I am grateful for my blog followers!
Cheers!

Candy Corn Day

I've been told that National Candy Corn Day is October 30.

But my Candy Corn Day is TODAY, September 1!
For the past 11 years, I've celebrated my made-up holiday.
It signifies making it through summer (even though it is still hot)
and it marks the beginning of my favorite time of the year - now 'til the New Year.

Celebrate with me! If you like candy corn, eat some!
If you dislike candy corn (as most people do) celebrate any way.

Yay! Fall is coming!
Cheers!