funny how the universe works

I'm not sure that it surprises me exactly, but i do take pleasure in the universe proving that which i have learned about it. In this case, I am referring to how things always balance out--this morning i was greatly annoyed while waiting for my coffee and yogurt parfait at McDonald's. Some young dopey kid who was obviously in his own world, oblivious to the fact that other people ordered food before him and were waiting, grabbed MY food and walks off--dummy--a few minutes later, he walks back and drops my stuff on the counter and says "oh-i grabbed the wrong food"--i just couldn't help myself "yeah--smooth" i said very sarcastically--

so anywho, I head out with my order and begin my short trek to the office. While I was walking, i notice a lady keeping stride with me and looking over at me--and then she starts talking to me--asking if i had any trouble from last night's storm and we got into a mini conversation--i don't know if she thought she knew me or just felt like chatting, but after i turned the corner I did feel better--by the time I got to work, I realized that I had just experienced the balancing act of the universe---guess i wasn't meant to start the day annoyed...lol...

i'm always seeking balance--not surprising for a Libra--and to balance out my unloved-of-late-blog, I promise I'll post more art soon--I actually have been working on things and have an entire tirade about ufos and wips---soon my lovelies--soon---

My Daughter, My Muse

This weekend turned out to be highly productive artwise. i focused quite a bit on my art journal-finishing several pages-printed photos and pressed leaves and flowers for my garden journal-started cutting pages and backgrounding (i love inventing new words) the covers for a spiritual journey journal-and worked on some backgrounds a la the current issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.




















While working on the backgrounds, my daughter stopped in for a visit--she perched herself on the exercise ball that i use as a chair at my sewing table--and bounced and chatted while i arted--in her teenage lingo, "Sweet!" told me she liked my results--she also offered suggestions, and instinctively knew to "add some of the orange paint there." I loved her little visit, and the collaboration--the backgrounds she offerend suggestions on will become the covers for the spiritual journey journal. It means a lot to me knowing such a meaningful journal begins with creative energy from both of us. If I may be so bold as to borrow the words of the young, thanks, Emma. You Rock!

more journal pages

Another prompt was to cut random words from printed sources--it did not surprise me that the words I "randomly" chose fit my feelings quite well--I stitched an additional fold-out page for a total of 4 hearts

i've come to the conclusion i hate the way this program uploads and arranges/rearranges photos and text...

Fear Journal pages

Several weeks and many summer activities have kept me from all of my creative endeavours. My gardens are doing quite well, and the final phases of planting are complete! Today I have finally been able to sit down and work on some art journal pages that are long overdue. I'm currently waiting for Golden soft gel medium to dry on new pages, so I will post the completed ones for now. I've decided to use this art journal as a way to try out new techniques and supplies--so far, i really like the soft gel medium and crumpling tissue paper to be glued down for backgrounds. the pop-up is neat, but i don't think i would do them too often--well maybe in altered books...lol...while i haven't used it in the journal yet, I also like painting on bubble wrap to make dots on the background as well--

a journal prompt from a few months ago was "Fear"--now, other than sharks, i'm not terribly afraid of much--but there is one thing that stops me in my tracks--in the form of history repeating itself--only worse--losing the person who i am madly in love with--who has captured my heart mind and soul like no other--to circumstance...i couldn't bear it and i hope the universe shall never be so cruel--

*****

I glued many textural bits to the pages and then painted over everything with black--i don't think it turned out the way i pictured, but it works. I wrote the text on white electrical tape with a sharpie--another new technique i like.

Not-so-Secret Garden

I have been nurturing (and occassionaly killing) houseplants for quite some time now--i have a regular jungle in the house these days...this is the first year, though that I have been able to plant anything outside and i have been LOVING it!

I moved to a new place in January, and had been eagerly awaiting warm weather to begin my latest hobby--i got all of my seed packets and my kits for starting them indoors (i have done that before and love to watch them grow from a tiny seed!) --however--winter was sooooooo cold and last sooooo darn long around here, that I was never able to start them even indoors :( next year i will invest in a grow light :p

but i digress...

i was finally able to start my gardening projects Memorial Day weekend--i purchased a few flats of this and that, a few pots of lavendar from the farmers market--hanging baskets and other containers..etc etc...after about 6 hours of potting, i had pretty little displays in the front and back yards--but nothing major--i've been doing (and buying) a little bit at a time, and Sundays have become my garden days--since memorial day, i think the look of the plants, pots and baskets have changed every week as i add to the mix and move things around.

yesterday, i was on a mission, though, to get the plants i already have into the best locations for them, and to complete to two sections in the back.

This is my favorite section, so far! It is in almost complete shade all day long, so the baskets have impatients and lobilium (sp?) and into the ground I relocated a sad hosta, a few coleus and two grassy things--don't kow how they will do as they prefer more sun--but time will tell--a friend of mine rescued some glass blocks for me and they make a great edging (as well as risers for a few pots not in the photo).

I have to say, there is something extremely rewarding about planting directly into the ground--up to now i had just been planting in containers--

On the other side of the patio, the garden area gets ALL of the afternoon sun--dahlias and lobilium are in the baskets and the lavendar and an edge of dusty millers are in the ground...

so, finishing up the shady side was fun and rewarding--finishing this side however was merely back breaking--i should have quit while i was ahead--but at least it is done, and will hopefully all stay alive!

Spiky Leo Bag

One of my recent projects has been altering the "reusable" bags they have at the grocery stores--I have to say most of them are awfully ugly--not to mention I always feel weird using one store's bags at a different store--I shouldn't, but I do--so here is a custom one that I made for my favorite Spiky Leo

And here is the Spiky Leo herself--see the resemblance?

In the beginning...

So, here I am--doing exactly what I have professed for so long that i neither had the time nor the desire to do--create and maintain a blog. Somehow, though, my art muses and goddesses have brought me here, and told me it is time...

Like the rest of my art, this will be a work in progress, so be patient with me while i figure out the technical side of these things--and by all means, feel free to offer suggestions--i'm all for customizing this ride, but haven't a clue how exactly to do that!