Seriously?!

...I'm Terrible, I Know. Sorry.

2012-02-07T09:10:00.001-05:00

I apologize for it being such a looong time since i last posted.
It's not that i don't think about posting. I do!
It's just that i don't always have much of anything to post about.
I just go about my days, doing my "usual" things, and i don't think you want to read the same things, week after week...

Or maybe i'm wrong.
You know, all of those "reality" shows are so popular now, and most of them are about all the day-to-day and stupid things that folk do.
So maybe i have the wrong attitude about it all. =-)

Anyway, my Dad is still coming over every weekday for his Yoga class from me. =-) I'm so thrilled that he's doing Yoga!

And he's noticing improvements!!!
That's the really important and wonderful thing! (in case you couldn't figure that one out for yourself) =-)

Anyway, he comes over every weekday. We used to do his "class" after my own morning Yoga class, but we decided to change it.
It was kinda an out-of-sorts time when we were doing his Yoga at lunchtime. So yesterday (Monday), we started doing his Yoga at 7:45am.
It's working out much better. =-)

...and speaking of Yoga...
My Yoga Teacher Training starts THIS Friday!!!
I'm excited, but i'm also nervous. When i told my teacher that i was also nervous, she just didn't understand *why* i would be nervous...
Seriously?!
I worry about so many things.
Of course i would be worried about this too.

But i'm gonna do it, regardless of my worries or fears.
I *am* looking forward to it.

I'll try to keep you posted.
(... but hopefully it w

Wish me luck!

=-)

I Know, I Know...

2012-01-12T15:24:00.001-05:00

What can i say: I'm a Slacker!

I'm not *exactly* a Slacker, though. I *have* been busy.
Plus the Sun hasn't shone around here for a few days, so i haven't been able to take any pictures of my latest Painting, so i haven't had a whole lot of desire to post...

Okay, okay! So i'm *not* a Slacker...

I'm a Procrastinator! [rolling eyes] Whatever.

Anyway!
The Sun finally decided to shine today, so i got my busy butt out there and took photos of my latest Painting! Yay! Go Me! =-)

I'm sort of proud of this one.
I know when you see it, you're gonna think it's a religious Icon, or a Saint, or something similar, but, honestly it's NOT!

...
Wait.
Let me start from the beginning, which is actually a very good place to begin.

I took an online painting course from Connie that lasted 6 weeks, and i discovered that i ABSOLUTELY LOVE painting! Her course is about the Process, and not about the Product (the outcome, the actual picture).
(If you're at all interested, she has a FREE course you can try first to see if you might like her paid course; Total Alignment. LOVED it! Then took a paid course; BIG. LOVED IT too!)

Anyway, i took her free course and then took a paid course, and then...
The course ended, as all things much, eventually.

So then i had a decision to make.
Do i wait and take another course with Connie,
or do i try to decide what to paint... On My Own?!?!

Well, her next course didn't start until January (this was back in November), and i honestly didn't want to wait that long.
I wanted to paint,
and i wanted to paint *now*!

But then i had another decision to make:
...
...what do i paint *about*?!?

Well.
Last month, i got to thinking about "what do i paint about now", and i decided to touch on the subject that i discovered while still in the beginning of the BIG course:
Why do i hold back?
Why do i deny myself so much, and worry so much?
WHY DO I HOLD BACK?!?!

So *that's* what i painted about.

"Why Do I Hold Back?"

It felt good while i was painting.
I thought about the fact that i've been "holding back" all my life.
I thought about how "holding back" stems from Worry.
I thought about lots of things while i was painting, but i didn't allow myself to think about whether my painting "looked right", or whether it was "good".
I Just Painted.
I painted what "felt right", and what felt good.
I talked out loud to myself while i was painting.
I asked myself questions that i didn't *need* to answer at that time.

I talked to myself A LOT while i painted this one.
And if felt Right.
It felt Good.

I didn't come up with any "answers" during this painting time, but at least i was asking myself the "right" questions. =-)

I *know* they were the right questions, because they "painted out".
(Don't ask me to explain that one; i'm not really sure how to answer it. I just know in my Heart that what i was doing was Right and Good.) =-)

Sorry. I've had coffee, so i tend to yak a lot when i've had coffee.
Without further "ado", here's

"Holding Back & Worry" (Dec. 2011)

I know it's difficult to tell without anything to "scale" it, but

it's about 3' wide x 5' tall.

And sorry about the shadows too!

Here's another shot where i moved the Painting a bit

to effectively "move" the shadows...

I "warned" you before that she looks kinda like a religious Icon or Saint or somemthing. That was NOT my intention when i was painting it!
NOPE!
I was just "painting what i felt"!
Painting without questioning "why".
Painting that which felt "Right".

...did i mention that i don't like her eyes?
I think they're "fuxxed up"!
But that's not my problem!
That is what "came out", so that's what's there.

...and that's really why i'm not posting any close-ups of this one.
I don't want you to nit-pick either.
It is what it is.

...and i like it.
Now, don't get me wrong! If i sit around and "analyze" it, then i can see EVERY LITTLE IMPERFECTION!
But that's not the point in Connie's painting courses!
The point is
to paint!
And so that's what i did.

=-)

I hope you're having a marvelous day!

...and if you're not?
Well, then, you'd better turn around!
Lift your head up and LAUGH OUT LOUD!
That always makes me feel a little bit better,
even when i'm in one of my Dark Places.

It's another glorious day!
And you've been given the miracle and blessing of Being a Part of It!!!
=-)

Take care!

=-)

Well... Finally!

2012-01-01T05:04:00.000-05:00

I thought, since it's a New Year... a "new beginning"... that today would be a good day to finally post about my Beaded Cuff.

I've been working on it, off and on, for a *while* now. =-)

Don't ask me how long it took to bead it... I really don't know.

I don't keep up with that kind of thing when i'm on a project.

My husband would be good at that type of thing, though.

...but i didn't ask him at the beginning of this project, to do that for me, so...

Sorry. Just suffice to say that it took

"a while". =-)

Part of the reason for that is that there were plenty of times where the cuff simply *sat* on my desk... waiting...

Waiting for me to pick it up again.

Then, there were those times when i worked on it for *hours* at a time:

boring days,

and most especially on those 4-hour rides to Beaufort, SC to see my Mom.

*Lots* of productive time then!

Before i let you see it (assuming you haven't already scrolled down of your own accord!) please allow me to babble a bit. =-)

I don't remember how i got the idea for this thing, but once i did, i just *had* to make it. =-)

I have some crushed velvet in my stash that i've had for a looong time.

I don't even remember where it came from, or how long i've had it. I *think* i got it when i used to make purses/bags.

Anyway.

I got the idea to use up some of these beads i have lying around in my cabinet.

(I've had them a long time too. I've always wanted to do something with them, but never knew *what*...)

Anyway.

I decided i wanted to make me a beaded cuff on that velvet.

(I guess i must tell you that it's not *really* velvet... but i don't know what it is, so... it's "velvet", okay?)

I originally thought i'd use a Coke can as the "underbelly"... the "base"... the "stabilizer" for the cuff,but as i went on with the project, i found out i didn't really wanna do it that way.

Okay.

Pause.

Rewind.

Rethink.

Pause some more.

Talk to friends about "what to do", "what to do".

My friend Pat (from the Y) suggested what i should use to "stiffen" up the "innards" like i was thinking i should. I forget what the stuff is called, but it was BRIGHT yellow. I mean brighter than Highlighter Yellow! And it was kinda canvas-like, and kinda hole-y. I dunno what it was, but it was some Embroidery or Crewel material that's a bit stiff.

Bingo!

Thanks Pat! =-)

And, Yes.

I individually hand-sewed *each* and *every* bead onto the "velvet".

Yes. It took a long time.

It took a very long time.

BUT!

I enjoyed it.

For some people, it would drive them batty.

But for me, i truly enjoyed it.

It's a time to slow down.

A time to think about other things.

A time to relax into a soothing rhythm of string bead, poke needle, pull thread, tie knot, poke needle, pull thread. Repeat.

Soothing.

For someone like me, anyway. =-)

And once i finally completed the beading, it was so wonderful!

Satisfying that i accomplished such a "daunting" task; a project i've never really tried before.

And this is something that's "All Me"!

I didn't have any type of "pattern".

No Tutorial or Instructions from anyone else.

No Pattern whatsoever!

This one is "All Me", Baby! =-)

So, please enjoy! =-)

Wendy's Beaded Cuff in the late afternoon Sun

But... See that little "string" up there?

On the upper Left?

...Yeah.

That's where a bead has already been broken off!

Can you believe it?! I've only worn it like 3 or 4 times, and

i've already *broken* it!

I think i can fix it, though.

And i'm STILL wearing it!

ONE little broke-off bead is NOT gonna make me STOP wearing it!

I love it too much.

=-)

Yep. There's that little "string"...

Taunting me again

"Nah-nah, nah-nah, nah!" and sticking its tongue out at me.

Well, i'm STILL wearing it, so

THERE!

Hmph!

Why, yes, it *does* close with Snaps! (I originally thought about Velcro, but changed my mind)

See?! Those *are* Snaps. =-)

And the Inside shot...

The Centerfold Shot =-)

(Does this count as "Porn"?)

I've "busted" a bead off of it already!
I'll have to see if i can fix that before any more come off!

But i love it anyway! =-)

So, i hope you've enjoyed this post!
I'm pretty proud of my Beaded Cuff (if you couldn't already tell). =-)
And it goes with pretty much *everything*
which is always a Bonus. =-)

And the truly flattering part?
My little sister, Z?
The *really* *picky* sister?
She LOVES it and wants me to make one for her!!! (Just not quite so wide...)

(And i take that as *quite* the Compliment!)

I hope you're having a Super Fantastic Wonderful Day!!!

And
by the way

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

=-)

Sorry...

2011-12-30T10:26:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posting lately, but with the holiday, and the family gatherings, i've been a bit busy.
Also, my Mom's husband is in the hospital, so Boyfriend & i are once again in Beaufort, SC taking care of Mom.
Her Alzheimer's is really getting worse, too. Her husband doesn't leave her alone anymore. Her short-term memory is SHOT!
So, wish us luck! It's gonna be a looong week or so.

I hope you're having a WONDERFUL holiday, and please have a SAFE and Happy New Year!!!

=-)

No New Painting

2011-12-14T05:32:00.000-05:00

Sorry. No picture today.
I guess i could use one of Bunny's photos, but...
I dunno. We'll see. =-)

Anyway, i mentioned in a post the other day something about getting an idea while i was in Yoga class.
Actually, that has happened a number of times for me.
I'm not sure what it is, exactly, but sometimes i'll have a problem or some situation will be buggin' me, and while i'm in Yoga,
suddenly
that problem will become clear;
a solution for the situation will suddenly appear in my head.

And that's really nice.
And comforting.

It's happened when i was working on a quilt and got "stuck" in a place of "i don't know what to do now" or "i don't know how to do this next step",
and then,
in class,
when i wasn't even thinking about my quilt,
suddenly,
BAM! There it is. There's how to work out my sewing problem.

And while working on that Beaded Cuff that i still haven't finished (just sayin'!), i've had technical issues that have finally been resolved while in Yoga class.

And when i was feelin' sooo bad about Kitty, and not knowin' what to do for her, during one class a really good idea occurred to me that i will be able to do to help others in the future, since Kitty doesn't want to try it for herself.

And that time, a few months ago, when i was falling into an old deep, dark place...
I forced myself to get up out of bed anyway.
I forced myself to drive to class anyway.
I forced myself to get out of the truck and go into the Studio anyway.
But do't let me mislead you. Yoga didn't miraculously make me feel Bright-Eyed & Bushy-Tailed, but it DID help me begin to feel better. And one lady noticed how badly i was feeling, and she stood there and hugged me.
Even though i told her i didn't want a hug.
But it helped. =-)
(And i didn't break down crying like i thought i would.) =-)

So Yoga class is good for me in many ways! It's good physically, but it's also good mentally and spiritually. It's just good all around!

I love it!!!

So...
What helps you figure out how to work out something? Or what helps you feel better?

(I know you're showing up to look. I have a Counter on here. Why not leave a little comment? Even if it's to tell me that this post is Lame.) =-)

And, since this post seems to be about Sunshine breaking through the clouds:

photo by Bunny

I hope you have a SUPER Wonderful Day!!!

=-)

Nineteenth Painting

2011-12-13T05:53:00.000-05:00

I started this online course with Connie thinking i couldn't paint...

Well, that's nottotally true. After doing the free "Total Alignment" course, i*thought* i *might* be able to paint a *little*... if i *really* tried. =-)

But i discovered itdoesn't really matter if i *can* paint or *not*

because

I LOVE TOPAINT!!!

I love the way i*feel* when i paint!

And Connie taught methat it's not about the end-product anyway, but about the verb, the actual actof painting.

AND I LOVE IT!

The fact that itypically like the end product is just BONUS.

Sprinkles on myCupcake.

A "nice bedtime story& warm glass of milk at the end of a beautiful day" plus.

I can't believe iactually LOVE to Paint!

And so, i thought i'dshare my "last" BIG painting with you.

I woke up one morning with the idea that i had to paint a Honu.

("Honu" is Hawaiian forSea Turtle)

So after my Yogaclass, and after giving my Dad *his* Yoga class, i got my paints out and painteda fairly decent Honu.

... then i didn't knowwhat to do.

So i left it hangingthere.

But the next day, inmy Yoga class, i suddenly realized that the painting wasn't about the Honu.

It was alllll aboutthe Water!

So i worked on it acouple of days, and here it is, all 34" x 42" of it:

(not quite finished, but almost; photo taken inside)

(completed Painting; photo taken outside)

I love it!

(Matter of fact, it's hanging in my "studio"; i have an entire room set up for my Art-making and Yoga. "Thank you SO MUCH Boyfriend!!")

I think it's funny how myPaintings never end up being like the original picture in my head, but i'vediscovered

That's Okay! =-)

I guess that's to be expectedwhen you're listening to... the Painting... Creative Source... my Inner Muse,what-have-you.

Just let it Flow.

Thank you so much Connie!

This has been SUPER!

I've discovered that i LOVEto paint, and it makes me feel SO GOOD inside!

I plan to continue, sinceit's so good for me. =-)

It makes my day Better.

It makes me Happy.

It makes me "More Complete".

...it's just shocking that inever discovered this before.

I'm 48 years old, for goodness' sake, andi'm JUST NOW discovering this?!

That's okay, though.

At least Connie helped me gethere.

Now it's up to me to continue it.

I hope you're having a WONDERFUL day!!!

Life's too short to be having a bad day.

=-)

Eighteenth Painting

2011-12-12T05:25:00.000-05:00

Whoah!

I disappeared for a bit there.

Sorry 'bout that!

I got caught up in some other stuff and didn't have time to blog.

So! Here we are, back to our "regular program". =-)

I've been writing about an online painting course i took with Connie, called BIG Fearless Painting.

LOVE!

Did i already tell you how much i loved it?!

'Cause i CERTAINLY Loved it!!! =-)

I still love painting, but truth be told, i haven't really painted since the course ended...

Sad, but true.

But that's NOT 'cause i don't like painting!

I LOVE PAINTING!!!

...i'm just not too sure of what to paint, and i haven't done one vital thing: i haven't MADE time each day to paint.

I've been doodling in my Notebook, so that's good. =-)

But i'm not standing up and painting BIG, so that's not too good...

BUT!!!

I HAVE ordered one of the art books that Connie recommended, and it should be here in a day or two, so THAT'S good. =-)

Anyway, i came here to tell you about my 18th Painting.

Okay, for this exercise, Connie told us to think about

"What does it feel like to be me?"

... ummm...

WHAT?!

This exercise had me stymied.

...what does it feel like tobe me...?!

I have no idea what it"feels like" to be me! I've always *been* me, so i don't knowhow it feels to be anybody else! What do you mean, "what does it feel liketo be me!?!"

But after i let that settlein for awhile, i started thinking.

...Well, it's kinda...

...I'm kinda dreamy...

...and floaty...

...and swimmy...

I didn't really have a"pre-conceived" idea when i started this one. But with"dreamy" and "floaty", I just got out a *bunch* of blue paints, and i began.

Then it needed orange...

and yellow...

and then some !Raspberry! I'm lovin' Raspberry lately! =-)

Sorry but i had to resort totaking the pictures inside, where the lighting for a camera isn't really great.

In the meantime, here's thebest photo i have.

I think this Painting isfairly juvenile, but it's what came out.

I just "painted with the Flow". =-)

This is a preliminary photo of the Painting "in process":

And here's a shot of it, *almost* completed:

... um, i don't think i have a "final" shot...

Crap!!! I thought i had a finished shot, but i don't! I looked all over my 'puter, but i never took one! I guess i didn't take it because i was gonna wait for a Sunny day, but then, when the Sun finally decided to shine, i'd moved on to other things and forgot!

...hmm...

I'm sorry. I honestly don't know if i'll *ever* get a "final shot". Just sayin'.

I added some white highlights, is all.

Anyway.

The full title is
"Floaty, Dreamy, Swimmy
Usually Good, Sometimes Sad"

Because i'm typically never "just one thing"; i vascillate.
Today i like something, and tomorrow i'm not really fond of it.
Today i want something, and tomorrow i'm not interested.
Today i feel good, and tomorrow i'm depressed.

(Though lately, with all the painting i've been doing, i've been feeling GREAT! =-) )

I hope YOU've been feeling great too! =-)

I apologize again for being absent for a couple of days.

Shit happens, ya know.

Hopefully i'll keep up now.

=-)

Seventeenth Painting

2011-12-07T05:42:00.000-05:00

In Connie's course, BIG, we were encouraged to paint by "going with the flow"... "listening to the Painting"... "painting what we're feeling".

After my scribbling, and shapes, and painting like a 5-year-old, and the serious Memory paintings, i felt like painting "without a plan".

...actually, i had a bit of a plan, but of course, once again, the "plan" in my head was NOT what came out onto the paper. =-)

My "plan" was to paint the night sky, and then to paint a Big Moon.

...well, i painted that, and then i walked away 'til the next day.

Ha.

The next day, that Moon suddenly became a Girl!

And then a moon showed up small & in the upper corner.

So i learned that when you're painting "from your feelings", the picture will most likely *not* (almost never, hardly ever) turn out like the one in your head!

Here she is, Gothic Moon Girl (Sorry. I couldn't figure out how to rotate the pic; just turn your head to the left):

It's hard to tell from a picture, but she's kinda big.

She's 28" x 34".

I'm not crazy in love, but i think she's alright. =-)

And that's okay.

I hope you're having a great day today.

If not, try this for me (just humor me a little):

Right now,

just where you are,

turn your head up and say "Haa ha ha!" loudly!

You have to do it really loud so the air is forced out of your lungs.

You'll feel silly, but you'll also feel something else.

I'm not gonna tell you what you'll feel.

You'll have to find out for yourself.

=-)

Thanks for stopping by! See you tomorrow! =-)

Sixteenth Painting

2011-12-06T06:09:00.000-05:00

I took Connie's on-line painting course, BIG, and i've been posting about it here.

I finished this course a week or so ago, but i've delayed posting 'til now. The timing simply worked better for me. But i journaled a bit during the course, so it's like you were there with me! =-)

Anyway, today's painting was another Contour Painting.

I drew the contour with a regular Ball Point pen, and then painted it with watered-down Acrylics. I used "close to real" colors this time, instead of my usual brights or "odd" colors. The only thing is, i forgot to paint in my white hairs (some people call them grey... whatev), and i didn't paint the background... But, honestly? I'm done with this one.

Again, i don't love it, but i don't hate it. So, it just is.

It's practice with faces, is what i think it is.

So there.

I did it, and *that's* the important part. =-)

Have a look:

Again, Boyfriend said, "You look way better than that."
That's sweet. Not that he thinks i look better, but that he thinks i could actually *draw* a *realistic-looking* person! Ha ha ha! =-)

Thanks for stopping by!
I hope you have a SUPER DAY today!!!

=-)

Fifteenth

2011-12-05T05:57:00.000-05:00

Sorry, but this one isn't really a Painting. Well, it is, but it's not.

In Connie's course, BIG, she asked us to do a Blind Contour drawing, and then to paint it. She warned us that we'd probably end up with something very "Picasso-like", so i knew it would be funky

and that it's okay. =-)

A Blind Contour drawing (of yourself) is where you look in the mirror, but NOT at your paper, and you draw "the edges" of what you see. It's a good exercise. They do it in "real" Art classes... at Colleges and Universities and everything! =-)

Anyway.

So i tried it.

I don't really like it, but that doesn't matter. It's definitely NOT supposed to be a Masterpiece or anything. =-)

...but i must confess. I had to cheat.

I just *had* to! [whine when you read that]

When i was doing the eyes, i couldn't stop myself from looking at my paper!

Whew! Confession really is good for the soul. =-)

See it for yourself:

I painted it with "odd" colors again. I wasn't going for "realistic" here, once again. I like painting with bright, vibrant colors. I decided to go sort of Pastel-ish here, though.

I don't love it, but i don't hate it either. It just is.

I look at it as an exercise in getting me to paint a face, without allowing my Inner Critic to be able to say anything about it because i had the "Perfect" excuse of, "I wasn't able to look at it while i was doing it! *NO*body could do a "perfect" face without looking!" [again, with the whining!]

Anyway, again, this was in my Notebook.

Drawn with a regular Ball Point pen.

Painted with Acrylics (watered down).

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope your day is MARVELOUS!!!

=-)

Fourteenth Painting

2011-12-02T05:58:00.000-05:00

I've been taking an on-line painting course (called BIG) with Connie.

I decided to post my results here.

Okay, so once again it's a picture from my Notebook.

Connie wanted us to do a Contour Painting of ourselves...

A Contour Painting is when you simply paint the outline or the edges of your subject. For this, i had to look in the mirror, then at my paper; mirror, paper, mirror, paper. You get the idea.

This is what i "came up with". =-)

Not really too happy with the results, but that's not the point.

I think this exercise was to help us get an idea that faces aren't really as difficult to do as we might think. To help us stop avoiding trying to paint faces. To let us know that our faces may not come out like we would like, but that it's okay. It's not like it's Brain Surgery! It's okay, however it comes out. =-)

So anyway.

I painted it some funky colors 'cause i wanted to let myself know that it's okay to have fun with it.

Boyfriend looked at it and said, "You look a lot better than that..." =-)

I thought that was *HILARIOUS*!

I told him it doesn't matter.

What matters is that i *did* it! =-)

I hope you have a MARVELOUS weekend!

See you Monday!

=-)

Thirteenth Painting

2011-12-01T05:20:00.000-05:00

I've been taking an on-line painting course called BIG (with Connie), and this is your "daily update". =-)

This is Tuesday morning's "Painting", but in all fairness it isn't really "A Painting". =-)

Again, it's in my Notebook.

I didn't have much time with this one, so i simply used my Watercolor Crayons and "played around" on the pages.

I told you i love Blues! =-)

Simple enough.

Like i said, i didn't have much time that morning...

But i have something good coming up soon.

Not tomorrow, but soon.

Tomorrow's post is "just okay".

But remember, it's NOT about the Painting, but about the Process! =-)

See you tomorrow!

=-)

Happy Birthday to...

2011-11-30T05:28:00.000-05:00

She's a Photographer

(I've used many of her photos on my blog, like this one, and this one, and this one, and... Well, you get the idea!

She's working on making an Etsy site...

I'll post that when she gets it going.)

She's not afraid to be Silly

She's an excellent Travel Partner

She's Sweet,

and Talented,

and everybody LOVES her!

She's my oldest daughter, Bunny, and

TODAY IS HER BIRTHDAY!!!

Happy Twenty-second Birthday

Sweet Girl!!!

I hope you have a Great Day!

Back tomorrow with more Painting posts.

=-)

Twelfth Painting

2011-11-29T05:09:00.000-05:00

Well, to be fair, this isn't really a "Painting".

Connie wanted us to "art" every day this week...

This is in my... Notebook. Some people call it a "journal"... Some call it a Scrapbook... Some call it a Doodle book... Different people call it different things, but i'm most comfortable simply calling it my Art Notebook.

...Honestly? I'm not comfortable calling it *any*thing! But Notebook will do. =-)

Anyway, here's my Monday morning Art; i used

Acrylic paints and

Stencils

This picture should be turned sideways so the leafy picture is on the left, but... I don't know what happened here. I *still* don't have a great grasp of Blogger. Sorry.

Anyway, i did the "top" page with three stencils, and the "bottom" page was my "cast-off" paint - the place i used to sort of "dry" my brush off before i painted on the stencil page. I didn't want to "waste" all that paint, so i just put it on the facing page...

Here you go:

Nothing great, but it felt good doing it. =-)

I seem to really be into red, orange & yellow lately...

And i'm *always* into Blues! =-)

See you tomorrow!

=-)

Eleventh Painting

2011-11-28T05:51:00.000-05:00

For the painting this week, Connie told us to look back at all of our other Paintings and simply be curious about them.

To spread them out and look at them and ask questions like:

What color(s) did i use a lot?

What symbol(s) or theme(s) seem to show up a lot?

How did i feel while i was making each Painting?

How do all of the Paintings seem to relate to each other?

She didn't want us to ask "why" this or that came up.

She didn't want us to analyze how we could have done a "better job".

She didn't want us to critique our Paintings, nor to worry about proportion or any Art School type of categories.

She just wanted us to be curious about all our previous Paintings, and to be open-minded about our next one.

So i went to my Studio with NO pre-conceived notion of what i would paint.

I did go to my paper with the idea that i had used a lot of green and orange in my previous paintings, so i wanted to explore that a bit.

What came out sort of surprised me, since i started with NO picture in my head, and no idea where i would start or where i would go next.

Well, let me show you my Painting:

There's a lot i don't know about it, but there are certain things i do know.

For instance, i have figured out that the Girl is me.

The orange & black things on the top right side are Adults talking to me, dictating things to me.

I'm not sure what all the dots on the top left are.

I also don't know why i'm all "zipped up". I think it has something to do with not voicing my opinion for many years while growing up.

I'm not sure why my heart is black... and why it's broken. (You probably can't tell it from the photo, but it's broken in half.)

I also don't understand why my 1st Chakra is so dark. (The 1st Chakra is low in the groin.)

I'm not really concerned with all those "Unknowns" above.

I'm fairly certain i'll be standing across the room from this Painting in a number of days, months, years, and suddenly have some deep understanding... some deep "knowing". I'm not really concerned with it right now.

But i like this Painting. =-)

I also like that my family likes it too. Or at least, they *tell* me they like it. =-) And Bunny noticed something i had already noticed: she said it looks like a Nesting Doll to her. I like that too.

This has been a wonderful process, this painting from the Heart-thing.

I plan on getting a couple of books that Connie recommended and doing more.

Because i've discovered that

FREAKIN'

LOVE

PAINTING!!!

I hope you find something that ignites your Fire like i have. =-)

'Til tomorrow!

=-)

Tenth Painting

2011-11-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

So i've been taking a 6-week painting course on-line with Connie, and i'm having such a BLAST!

Connie told us to paint a memory, and my first memory painting was a bit of a downer.

So i decided to paint something happy.

In the car, i could think of *tons* of happy memories i could paint...

I thought *surely* i could find a happy memory to paint...

Um...

Hmmm...

Easier said than done, i guess.

When i got in front of my big white paper, the only memory that would come up was *another* bad one.

There's a looong story behind this one, but i'll try to give you the condensed version...
I skipped high school one day, got drunk, woke up to my oldest brother fussing at me about how i was being awful to our Mom.
This painting is my view while walking away from him, toward my car up the steps.
He was fussing at me hard, and i yelled back, "Shut up! You don't even know!!!" I don't exactly remember what happened after i got in my car, but this painting wanted to come out.

So i let it.
That's kinda what Connie's course is about: letting out what needs to come out; letting the painting speak to you... and LISTENING; letting happen what needs to happen (sort of like in Yoga class).

It's about Painting (the verb), the *Process*, not about The Painting (the noun).
And i still LOVE painting!

Hope i haven't brought you down today with this.
That is NOT my intent!
Just sharing my life and what i'm doing with my Art.

Won't you share yours too?

Hope you have a GREAT weekend!
See you Monday.

=-)

Ninth Painting

2011-11-24T05:49:00.000-05:00

First allow me to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving Day.

Hopefully you are able to be with family... or at least with those you love and who love you. =-)

Now on to my Painting post...

I hesitated posting this painting...

And now that i realize it will be published on T'Day, i hesitate even more...

But...

I prefer to keep on keepin' on (as we used to say in the '70s). =-)

Connie told us to paint a memory this week, and this was the very first one that came up. Once it was there, i just couldn't get it off my mind.

And then, i just knew it was exactly the memory i needed to paint.

I knew it would be difficult to do, and *that* was why i *had* to paint it.

I posted a long time ago about being molested.

I dealt with it and worked through it a long time ago.

Then my youngest daughter was molested, and that brought up all my old memories.

And when Connie told us to paint a memory, *this* was the one that came up and wouldn't back down.

So i painted it the best i could.

I don't love it, but i painted it.
So in keeping with posting all of my paintings, there you go. =-)

After i finished it, i had lots of other memories come up; happy memories. So i decided to paint a different Memory Painting...
I'll show you that one tomorrow.

'Til then

Have a GREAT day!!! Hopefully it's full of Love and Loved Ones.
=-)

Eighth Painting

2011-11-23T05:34:00.000-05:00

Okay, so *this* one was really fun!

Like i told you, the first paintings Connie told us to do were

Scribble (just paint with scribbles)

Line (just paint with lines & color)

Shape (just paint shapes, like circles, triangles, etc)

Then, Connie told us to "Paint like a 5 year old!"

Now, what she meant wasn't to paint what you would paint if you were 5, but to paint with the *process* that a 5 year old uses;

just paint, not worrying about precision or proportion or any Art School worries.

Just paint.

Just do it, show someone you love, and then

Drop it!

It's done. Don't worry about it. Don't question it. Don't point out your mistakes. Heck, there *are* no mistakes!

A 5 year old gets a piece of paper, some paint & a brush

puts a picture on the paper

takes it home & shows it to Mom

and then

hops away, on to something else!

That's the kind of attitude Connie wanted us to paint with.

And I LIKED IT! =-)

Well, let me show it to you:

Isn't it cute?!

And whimsical!

I had fun doing it, too. I really love painting, and it surprises me every time! I didn't know i would love painting so much! =-)

I've never considered myself an Artist, but i'm beginning to think i just may be...

Whatever.

Anyway,

I'M HAVING FUN!!!

You should try it too. =-)

'Til tomorrow.

=-)

Seventh Painting

2011-11-22T05:23:00.000-05:00

Today's painting is another Shape painting.

Nothing to brag about, but i had fun doing it. =-)

It feels SO good to do some Art each day. =-)

I've really enjoyed taking Connie's course, BIG.

She has a free course you can try for yourself!

What do you have to lose? =-)

Hope your part of the World is doing GREAT!

Back tomorrow with another painting...

=-)

Sixth Painting

2011-11-21T05:12:00.000-05:00

So first, Connie had us paint Scribbles.

Then she had us paint Lines.

Next she had us paint Shapes.

Any shape. Circle, triangle, square, star, whatever our intuition told us.

Whatever felt good. =-)

So here's what i did:

Simple! =-)

And that's the secret to Connie's course, BIG; make it simple, starting out.

That way, there's no "right" or "wrong".

There's nothing to "mess up".

And since it's on (basically just cheap) paper, there's not a lot your Inner Critic can say, 'cause this is "just an exercise".

And again,

i felt SO GOOD while painting this!

Yes, i know it's simple.

Yes, i know "anybody" can do it.

Yes, i know it's NO Masterpiece!

...

And i DON'T CARE!

I STILL felt SO GOOD while painting it. =-)

'Cause it's NOT about the Painting (the noun).

It's about the Process of painting (the verb)!

And i REALLY REALLY LIKE the VERB!!!

=-)

Thank you Connie for this wonderful adventure!

=-)

Fifth Painting

2011-11-18T06:56:00.000-05:00

Okay... So it looks a lot like my Fourth painting.

But that's okay because it's a process.

And according to Connie, it's alllll about The Process (and NOT the Painting [the Noun])!

Another "Lines" painting from the first week of BIG:

And, once again, i felt sooooo good doing it!

=-)

Fourth Painting

2011-11-17T06:49:00.000-05:00

So for the first week of BIG, Connie wanted us to paint with Scribbles, then with Lines, and then with Shapes.

Here is my "Lines" painting.

Do i think this is great?

Nope.

But did i *feel* great doing it?

YOU BET!!!

For some reason, i feel SO GOOD when i Paint!

I LOVE IT!!!

So painting is quickly becoming something i think about alot.

And painting is becoming something i *want* to do, too.

Like, Every Day.

I'll be back tomorrow to show you my next "new thing".

=-)

Third Painting

2011-11-16T05:49:00.000-05:00

Not much to look at, and didn't take me very long either, but the important thing is...

I'm Painting! =-)

Connie at Dirty FootPrints Studio, and of Fearless Painting fame, "warned" us that we'll have some ugly paintings, and that

"That's Okay!"

So during the past 5 weeks of her course, my Fear Gremlin (aka Inner Critic) has been pretty quiet.

And that's a VERY GOOD THING! =-)

Hoping you're having a Wonderful Day!

I'm off to Paint some more!

=-)

Second Painting

2011-11-15T05:53:00.000-05:00

So here's the second painting i did with Connie's course, BIG:

I can't even begin to tell you how good i felt while i was painting this.
And i've had this experience almost *every* time i've painted.

Connie tells us to "let go" and to go with the flow.
She also tells us of ways to forget about our "Inner Gremlin", our "Fear Gremlin", our Inner Critic. (Different people call "it" different things.)

But this one was Free-ing.
This one felt good.
And then i was getting mad while i was doing it.
But Connie had warned us about the emotions that would come up, so i knew it was okay, and i immediately went to my journal and wrote about what i was feeling.
It helped.
It felt good to be delving into all that was coming up.

Once again, Painting felt Good.

I'll be back soon about my next painting.
=-)

First Painting

2011-11-14T05:38:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a looong time since i last posted...

And lots has been going on over here...

But i thought i should at least *try* to catch you up. =-)

So, i went to this website and

Fell.

In.

Love!

And since then, i've been

PAINTING!

Keep in mind that i am NOT a painter.

I don't really even consider myself an Artist... but...

But Connie has convinced me that i don't *need* to be.

Or that i already am.

Or whatever.

It doesn't matter!

It doesn't matter if i consider myself an Artist, or if i *am* an Artist.

What matters is that i Paint.

And i have found that when i Paint

Feel

Fabulous!!!

So i've spent the past 5 weeks in a painting course with Connie

and i've been painting.

And IT FEELS WONDERFUL!!!

It feels so good when i paint.

I don't think about anything but the feel of painting (the Verb).

Here is the first painting i did in Connie's course "BIG":

I was supposed to just "scribble".

And i did!

But it became *more* than just scribbling. And since i watched all of Connie's videos for the week, i knew that it was okay if it turned into more than just "scribbling".

So i went with it.

And it felt so good.

As Connie suggested, i also journaled along with my painting, but i'll not bore you with that right now.

Just suffice to say that once you put yourself in Connie's confident and loving hands, you will be able to paint something.

I am SO enjoying this journey with her.

And you would too.

I'll post more of what i've been painting.

I'll try to be back tomorrow.

=-)

Just Paint Something!

Make It Work

2011-10-03T11:45:00.000-04:00

You may not want to read this post.
It's looong and full of tears.
And probably boring to you.
But i need to "talk" this out.
I haven't allowed myself to talk about it with anyone yet, and i just gotta "let it out" now.
You can simply come back tomorrow for your Quote of the Day thing, k?

Or continue if you wanna try it.
But don't say i didn't warn ya!
=-)

Bunny, Nov. 1989

I knew on this day that one day she would move out and start her own life...

My little sister, Z (on the right), stealing her cookie.

She's so precious! And typically happy... just because!

I curled her hair for this photoshoot.

She hated it, but let me do it anyway.

She was a little bit of a tomboy when she was young...

Precious AND sweet!

Boyfriend nailed it when he said

"She has the heart of an Angel."

I have a TON of photos i could show you...

But i'll only cry, and you'll be bored and uncomfortable, so...

Here she is at Thirteen

Here we are when she turned Fourteen.

She's been by my side for so long...

At Fifteen

After she had her wisdom teeth taken out

Seventeen

Out in Nature, where she loves to be.

High School Graduation, 2008

I knew then that it probably wouldn't be long, but i stayed in Denial...

It's safe in Denial...

For a while, anyway.

But sooner or later, Reality comes crashing down on you.

At the age of almost 22, Bunny moved out this past Saturday (October 1st).

I haven't allowed myself to cry...

Until now.

I've forced myself to only look at it from Her point of view.

She's been so excited! It's a brand new Adventure for her!

She moved into an apartment 30 minutes away, with her boyfriend.

She's never moved before (that she remembers).

Everything went smoothly. Nothing got broken.

She texted me last night that all the boxes are unpacked now, and they're almost ready to start hanging stuff on the walls.

She's so Happy.

=-)

So now here i sit with my own feelings.

It seems like she's always been there with me.

She was my First Baby.

She is always so loving and kind and understanding and sweet.

And she gives the Best Hugs in the World!!!

I know it's not like she's dead. I'm not saying that at all!

I know it's not like she's moved to California or Japan or someplace (as far away from me as she can).

But she's not Here anymore.

I can't just go upstairs and chat with her or hug her if i want.

Because before, when she *was* here, she would stop what she was doing if i wanted a hug.

Yep, she spoiled me as much as i spoiled her. =-)

She's still spoiling me by texting me every day... And by answering her phone when i call.

I know it's early yet, but at least i still feel the love.

I moved out of my Mom's the day after i graduated High School.

I honestly don't remember moving out; i've blocked it out. I was so angry and upset with my Mom. And hurt by her. It took me a couple of years to forgive her!

But this move is so different. I can't even compare them.

I know Bunny's just a phone call away, or a short drive away.

But i miss her SO MUCH already!

And i know things will never be the same.

I know deep down that each day when we wake up, things are never the same. But this is different.

It's a "New Era" in my life.

And i'm honestly not ready for it.

Oh, i knew it was coming! I knew the day she was born that this day would come. If only i had written myself a note on that day to remind myself what life was like before children. What did Boyfriend and i do with our time? What did we do as a couple?

I know i can never "go back". But now i have to "invent" a new reality for myself.

I just never imagined a Reality without a Bunny in it on a daily basis.

And i am so sad.

I know i still have Kitty!

And i'm *trying* to be positive in all this.

Now Kitty has me and her Daddy all to herself! I guess i'm just not sure that's a good thing in her eyes... She's pretty independent, ya know. She's pretty self-sufficient.

And one day, she'll "betray" me too.

I know it's coming.

I guess that's what's also bothering me.

I knew from the start that they would leave the nest.

I just never thought about what i would do with myself when that time came.

I need to stop feeling sorry for myself!

I need to let go.

I need to look at it from Her point of view only.

She is so Happy!

She is in a new phase in her life.

(And subsequently, so am i.)

Embrace it Wendy.

Embrace it.

Relish in her accomplishments!

There are neighbors who've lived in my subdivision as long as i have, with children around my daughters' ages, and their children have not made this transition. I am at least thankful that my daughters are confident enough to spread their wings and go out into this vast World and

LIVE!

I hope and pray that they live it to their FULLEST!

=-)

Don't come back little bird, regardless of my feelings of loss.

Don't come back.

Go out there and Dream your Dreams!

Live your Life as fully as you possibly can!

Do that for me and i'll be happy.

=-)

Sleepwalking In Habits

2011-09-30T07:01:00.000-04:00

Photo by Boyfriend

Long Key

If you always do

what you always did,

you'll always get

what you always got.

- Anonymous

Patience

2011-09-29T06:55:00.000-04:00

Photo by Boyfriend

Long Key

How poor they are that have not patience!

What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

- William Shakespeare

Ahimsa

2011-09-28T13:49:00.001-04:00

Photo by Boyfriend

Key West

The only thing we can control is our attitude.

We have the choice of life or death,

love or fear, in each moment.

And we bear the responsibility

for that choice in each moment.

- Rolf Gates, "Meditations From the Mat"

New Quilt!

2011-09-27T13:10:00.000-04:00

It's taken me a looong time, but i've finally finished Kelsey's Baby's quilt!
Yay!!!

The thing that took me so long was the label.
I struggled with how to do the label, and then, after i decided i'd just hand-embroider it myself... Well... Then i had to sit around and think about that for a looong time too.

Anyway, i FINALLY got it all finished week-before-last, and then i had to wait around for the Sun to come back out so i could finally take pictures of it! =-)

Without further ado, here's Sophia's quilt:

While she was pregnant, i asked Kelsey what colors the Baby "felt like", and she said

"Pink and Green",

so that's what i did...

plus some. =-)

Kinda close-up

(Bunny was NOT here to help me, so i just did

the best i could.) =-)

The back of Sophia's quilt

The hand-embroidered label

(i'm so proud of it, can you tell?)

Folded up, almost ready for me to mail it...

(Now where's that box)?

The trip to my sister's was very nice indeed. =-)

We talked. A lot!

We did a little Yoga.

She tried to get me to do some Yoga with her husband, but i honestly don't know where to begin with him just yet... He has Rheumatoid Arthritis really really bad, and i look at his back and just get stymied.

He walks like he hurts ALL OVER, and really?

He DOES hurt all over...

So i don't know where to begin.

But this just tells me that i need to go ahead and take a Yoga Teacher Training class and specialize in seniors and people with arthritis, and i really need to

GET GOING ON THAT!

I know, i know. I've gotta be careful what i ask for, but...

I'm sincere in this!

I read a book called "The New Yoga for People Over 50" by Suza Francina, and she just has me fired up! =-)

Now i'm working my way through another excellent book called "Yoga for Arthritis", and it's SO informative and good. I'm gonna start doing some of those poses with props with my Dad today.

Actually, i REALLY need to get busy 'cause i gotta make a Bolster (or TWO) for him, and a couple of eye "pillows" - one for Daddy and one for Boyfriend.

Wow! I'd best get BUSY!

=-)

Pet Me

2011-09-26T07:06:00.000-04:00

Animals are such agreeable friends -

they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.

- George Eliot (1819 - 1880)

Road Trip!

2011-09-23T06:54:00.000-04:00

I'm going to my sister's today for the weekend! (Well, 'til Monday.)
(She's probably shouting, "Finally!" right about now...) =-)

She lives in Eastern NC with her husband and two dogs, out in the country. I don't go to see her often enough, but i thought i'd go see before her busy-season at work begins.

It's difficult trying to "fit everybody in".
We try to get to my Mom's at least every 6 weeks.
We try to get to Boyfriend's Mom's every month.
I'm doing Yoga every day, and now i'm *also* teaching Yoga to my Dad FOUR days a week! (Big Smile!) He told me a few weeks ago that he needs to start stretching out or something, and asked me about whether he could do Yoga or not. I sort of joked that, "I should come to your house and do it with you." and he JUMPED on that one! He asked me about three times if i thought i'd be willing to do that some time...
Daddy is NOT the type of person to ask for help. Like, EVER! He told me a year or so ago that he'd rather live under an overpass somewhere than to inconvenience any of his (all grown) children!
"WHAT?!?!"
I'm not kidding!

Anyway, since he asked, like at *least* three times, i figured i'd BEST get my butt up and go teach him some Yoga!
It's really challenging me!
I took him to an "easy" class (called Ease and Flow), as my Yoga teacher recommended, and he couldn't even get into Child's Pose!
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/475

It made me so thankful that i can move as well as i can.

I was also a little taken aback that my Daddy *couldn't* move that well.
It's something i never really noticed on our Saturday-morning-breakfast-routine. It's not like i ever asked him to kneel down and put his forhead to the floor or anything. =-)

Anyway, i've been giving him "lessons" for two weeks now, and i think we're BOTH loving it! =-)

He's wishing he had started Yoga years ago, and i'm wishing there was somewhere around here that teaches "Yoga for Seniors Teacher Training". About all they really teach here for Seniors is "Chair Yoga", and that's honestly what i'm NOT looking for.
I ordered this book from Amazon, and my honest wish is to go to California and learn from the author in person! Her book is so informative and good! When she looks at a Senior, she doesn't see someone who is "old". She doesn't see someone who is relegated to a life of deterioration and eventual dependence on others. She tries to eventually get each Senior to end up doing Headstands, if that is AT ALL possible!

Her book is SO INSPIRING!

I gave it to Daddy to read, for him to glean helpful tips and pointers from it. Also, all the pictures of all those white-haired "little old ladies" doing handstands and headstands and bragging that their grandchildren have taken them to Kindergarten to use them as Show-&-Tell! I just LOVE IT! I hope it inspires him too. =-)

I have a lot to learn in order to continue to help Daddy.
And i think it's inspired me to "branch out" into the Yoga-for-Seniors part of teaching Yoga.

I want to help people to "grow young"!

Hope you have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!
I'll be back on Monday.

=-)

Einstein

2011-09-22T07:03:00.000-04:00

Photo by Wes

(NO filters or Photoshop or ANYthing!)

I never think of the future.

It comes soon enough.

- Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Today's Quote

2011-09-21T06:40:00.000-04:00

Death is Nature's expert advice to get plenty of Life.

- Goethe (1749 - 1832)

2011-09-20T07:26:00.000-04:00

Photo by Boyfriend

No Spring, nor Summer beauty hath such grace,

As I have seen in one Autumnal face.

- John Donne (1572 - 1631), Elegies

Quote of the Day

2011-09-19T08:20:00.002-04:00

Photo by Bunny

Autumn wins you best by this, its mute

Appeal to sympathy for decay.

- Robert Browning, Paracelsus

Thought

2011-09-16T07:26:00.000-04:00

Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack in everything

That's how the light gets in.

- Leonard Cohen

Quote

2011-09-15T06:29:00.000-04:00

Photo by Bunny

Love is my Religion.

I don't condemn, i don't convert.

-Ziggy Marley

A Finish From Yesterday

2011-09-14T14:25:00.000-04:00

I completed another painting.
This one took me over two weeks to do...
I fell into a dark, deep depression in the middle of making it, and that seriously messed with my "Mojo".

But i finally finished it! =-)

I'm not totally crazy about it, and i didn't get the "high" from doing this one that i did from the other one, "Inner Balance". Boyfriend confided a secret to me, and i just sort of lost that good feeling in the middle of trying to paint this one, "Grounding Down & Spreading Up".

But i love the colors in this one! They sort of bring me a sense of peace and confidence.

Once again, the "vision" in my head is not what came out of my paintbrush, but that's okay this time. I like it anyway. =-)

I had wanted for her hair to look like the branches of a tree spreading up into the sky, but it certainly didn't come out that way. =-)

Oh! I guess i should inform you that she is doing the Tree Pose from Yoga.
I've been doing Yoga for almost two years now, and i absolutely LOVE it!

Without further ado, i give you:

"Grounding Down & Spreading Up"

She has a "fire" in her belly.

(That's her creativity.)

The Lotus above her head suggests

the unfolding of the soul.

I originally wanted her hair to look like branches of the tree

spreading up into the sky...

But it didn't come out of the paintbrush like that, so instead

she has a crown, suggesting Freedom/Liberty.

I hope you like her.
She's "growing" on me. =-)

p.s. I hope you know that sharing my Art is a bit like
allowing you to see a piece of my Soul.

=-)

2011-09-13T08:13:00.000-04:00

Photo by Bunny

The real voyage of discovery

consists not in seeking new landscapes,

but in having new eyes.

- Marcel Proust

September 11th - Ten Years Later...

2011-09-11T12:52:00.003-04:00

Photo by Bunny

We are alive and it's our job to appreciate every single minute of our days.

That is the lesson we should learn from the 2,985 people who died ten years ago.

-The Bitchy Waiter

Quote For Today

2011-09-09T06:32:00.000-04:00

Photo by Bunny

Art is not a handicraft;

it is the transmission of feeling the artist has experienced.

- Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910) What is Art?

Today's Quote

2011-09-08T05:23:00.000-04:00

We are always the same age inside.

Gertrude Stein (1874 - 1946)

Quote for Today

2011-09-07T05:13:00.000-04:00

It is part of the cure to wish to be cured.

- Seneca (8 BC - AD 65) Hippolytus

Quote for the Day

2011-09-06T14:02:00.000-04:00

The heart has eyes that the brain knows nothing of.

Dr Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842 - 1933)

Today's Thought

2011-09-05T03:10:00.000-04:00

The secret of contentment is

knowing how to enjoy what you have,

and to be able to lose all desire for

things beyond your reach.

- Lin Yutang

=-)

Thought for the Day

2011-09-02T03:02:00.000-04:00

Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste

that they hurry past it.

- Soren Kierkegaard

=-)

Thought for Today

2011-09-01T21:59:00.003-04:00

What makes us discontented with our condition is

the absurdly exaggerated idea we have of

the happiness of others.

- French Proverb

=-)

I Really Surprised Myself Today...

2011-08-21T17:44:00.000-04:00

So, this lazy Sunday morning, i went back to Connie's FEARLESS painting site and watched the second video, "Balance".

She told me to think about Balance. Inner Balance.
So i started thinking.

I think i'm a fairly balanced person.
I have a pretty peaceful life.
I'm fairly balanced physically, mentally, emotionally.
(This, of course, is only MY opinion...) =-)
Anyway.

So then i started thinking, "Okay, so what do i think of when i think of someone with Inner Balance?"
Well...

I think of a woman with a Fire in her Belly.
I think of someone with a BIG Heart.
I think of someone who tries to use her Third Eye (Inner Sight).

So then i started painting.
(Sorry, but i didn't take Process pictures. I was too in the Zone!)

First i painted the Belly.
Then i painted the Heart.
Then i painted the outlines of the Head, the neck, shoulders, arms, and then the Body.

I am SO TICKLED with the outcome that i am almost in TEARS!
Have a look for yourself:

It took me about FIVE HOURS to do this!

When i told Kitty that, she said something like, "What the hell?! Why?!?"

I'm sure it took so long because of the *way* i did it; first the belly, then the heart, then the body outline, then filling in the body color, then the black outline of the boobs and body, then the hair, and i did the background last, so it took a long time.

But i'm THRILLED with it!!!

Which is kinda funny, 'cause Connie says it's not about the *picture*, but about doing the painting without worrying about the outcome. To paint like a 5-year old. =-) I like that.

You know how a 5 year old will make a picture at school, and then run home with it to show it to Mom or Dad, and then leave the picture with Mom or Dad and just run to something else? That's how we should approach our painting (the Verb) with Connie's "course".

I'll be back...

=-)

And I Did It Again!

2011-08-19T16:07:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, i was "piddling" in my notebook, and i cut strips of pages of a magazine, and glued them side-by-side into my notebook. I didn't know what i was going to do with it after that, so i just let it "sit" and ruminate/marinate.

Yesterday, i was watching Connie again, and i decided to go back into my kitchen and see what would "speak" to me in my notebooks and paints...

Well, here's what i did:

First i gesso-ed my pages (a white sort-of-watery paint).

Then i pulled my metallic purple paint and made the heart.

Then i added the back.

Then i suddenly wanted RED.

I had originally thought i'd add some white on top of the black, but the redpulled me too hard first, so i went with it.

Again, i felt REALLY GOOD while i was doing this!

I felt "free".

I felt young.

I felt somehow Empowered.

I was playing a classic Rock station too, so i was Rockin' OUT!

But yesterday was a VERY GOOD DAY for me!

=-)

And i was having so much fun that i didn't want to stop, so the metallic gold caught my eye and i started the next page:

First i painted the gold heart, and then the black, and then i added the white.

I thought i was finished, but then the metallic green "called" me and i added the swirls in the corners.

Then i pronounced it "Done".

And i was STILL so HAPPY and feelin' GREAT!

It was a wonderful day!

=-)

And that's the double-page spread, though i really consider them two different pictures, kinda like the one from the day before.

Do i consider myself a painter?

No.

But am i happy while painting?

HELL YEAH!

Thank You Connie!

And No i haven't forgotten the rest of the pix from the Keys! I'll get 'em up...

SOON!

=-)

My Latest Thrill (Which Surprised Me)

2011-08-17T16:31:00.000-04:00

I know i need to get some more pictures up from our trip to the Keys and finish telling you about that, but first i just have to let you know about something i've found. I belong to a group called "Wild Precious", which is really cool all by itself, but i got an e-mail from Effy (she's the one who started "Wild Precious") and she linked to this site, Dirty Footprints Studio.
First, allow me to tell you emphatically that i've never been a painter.
I've never really considered myself to be a very creative or artistic person, but i've certainly never really tried to paint (other than "messin' around" with mixed media "journals").
But this lady!
This lady makes me feel like i can paint!
Actually, after watching the firsts video yesterday, i went in my kitchen and started "messin' around" with some paint in a couple of my journals, and then!
Then, today after yoga, i watched another of her videos and i got out some colors that "spoke to me", and i made this:

Let me first say i am not a painter!
But This Lady!
This lady made me feel like i CAN go for it!
And while i was "going for it", FEARLESSly, i might add =-)
While i was painting, i felt Fabulous!!!

And it doesn't really matter what the painting (the noun) looks like.
What truly matters is how i feel doing the painting (the verb)!

Anyway, since so many colors "spoke to me" while i was looking in my paint tube drawer, i had to do another one. =-)

I had absolutely NO pre-conceived notions a bout what this one was going to look like when i started it. It was just important that i use different blues. The waters from my trip to the Keys is still on my mind...

Anyway, i'm fine with the outcome.

I'm not a Painter, and i'm totally okay with that.

BUT!

I like what came out of my hands and my heart. =-)

I painted them in one of my "art journals".

Seriously? I really don't know what to call these "bound mixed-media paper" things... I seriously hesitate calling them journals, because to me, a journal is something in which you write your words about how you feel and what you do and what's happening in your life. So to me, this really isn't "A Journal".

But then, i don't know what to call it. I use the word "journal" because i forget to simpy call it a notebook, and i don't know what to call it.

Anyway!

There's that. =-)

Love it. Hate it. Whatever.

It makes me feel GOOD! =-)

I'll be back "shortly" (whatever that means in my little World) to add the rest of our Keys trip pictures.

Sending you Light and Love and Good Feelings.

=-)

And Now I Wanna Move to the Keys!

2011-08-09T06:53:00.003-04:00

Boyfriend and i went on a vacation with some friends. We left on July 29th and returned on August 3rd.
We had a Blast!
We went with our neighbors, W & C, our good friend E, and a couple of his friends, Anne & Paul. It all started at the Wine Room when Anne said she was gonna be "free" of her boys and wanted to go on vacation somewhere tropical, and we all said "We're in!"
She booked us rooms at the Lime Tree Bay Resort in Long Key, Florida. We flew from Charlotte to Ft Lauderdale, took a 15 passenger van from Ft Lauderdale to the Keys.

First we stopped at a winery in Homestead, Fl

called Schnebleys.

The winery was a really beautiful place, seemingly in the middle of nowhere i might add. They do weddings there and stuff. It's *really* beautiful.
(Just as an aside, i didn't like any of their wines, but everybody else did. They don't make *grape* wine; they use fruit such as guava, coconut, lychee, etc, and they also make an avocado wine that Boyfriend really liked. It was interesting, but not my style...)

We got to our hotel, got checked in, and hung out at the pool for a bit, and then it was time for the sunset.

The sunset over the bay outside our room

The next day, we headed to Key West.
"The Keys" are made up of over 1000 islands at the southern tip of Florida.
I loved them all! =-)

A tiny island we passed on our way to Key West

We stopped at a place called "No Name Key" 'cause Anne had read about this small bar called "No Name Pub".

No Name Key

No Name Key wasn't directly on US 1. We had to go "off the beaten path", so to speak. But we found it! =-)

No Name Pub on No Name Key

Once we got inside and sat down, and my eyes adjusted to the darkness, i was *astounded*. The entire pub, all the ceiling, and every square inch of walls, was COVERED in dollar bills!
I couldn't talk for looking in wonder at alllllll the dollar bills!

Dollar bills hanging from the ceiling

(Boyfriend used an SLR without a flash for this one)

It was unbelievable!

Paul and Anne pondering how they can get some of that money.

Eric, C & W are actually paying attention to Boyfriend

for the photo.

I, however, was off-camera with my mouth wide open in disbelief.

I finally managed to pay attention for a minute;

Here's Boyfriend & me

with more dollars than i've ever seen at one time

Just in case you missed it

it's called the

No Name Pub

It's small, and it's old, but

it's Amazing!

We finally made it to Key West!
Hard to believe, i know. =-)
But we *were* on vacation, so some in our group had a "checklist".
E wanted to go to "every bar Hemingway went to", so that was our first goal.
(I think, technically, that was his "minimum". I think he *really* wanted to go to *every* bar in Key West... We didn't quite make it. But he wasn't really disappointed. =-) )

Captain Tony's Saloon

It *used* to be Sloppy Joe's, where Ernest Hemingway used to hang out

but then the rent went up, so Hemingway and the bar "owner" moved

to a place around the corner.

(Sorry, don't know why this one loaded sideways, but i can't get it to turn.)

Taken inside Capt. Tony's

This place apparently collected bras from (in my opinion)

heavily inebriated women.

Not sure why, but Boyfriend really wanted me to "donate" mine.

HA! As if! I had on my Good Bra!

=-)

I also liked all the old license plates from various states hanging everywhere.

And here is the "new" Sloppy Joe's Bar

For some reason, there are "wild" chickens everywhere in Key West.

We saw this one in the backyard of "The oldest house in Key West".

He was a beauty!

We had lunch at Willie T's .

(Anne & Paul wandered off on their own...)

They had dollar bills *and* license plates all over the place.

(Again, i couldn't get this one to turn right-side-up. Sorry.)

Here's E and Anne at the Hog's Breath Saloon.

Here's the "porch" of Hog's Breath.

There was a lady in there with her dog

in a baby stroller!

Mallory Square... before the sunset.

Then we sat on the balcony at The Whistle bar.

Niiice views.

Nice buzz, too. =-)

That's me, E, Paul, Anne, C & W.

Boyfriend was the camera man. =-)

And here's the whole gang

at Mallory Square

just before sunset.

Boyfriend & me at Fogarty's

where we had supper that night.

Good times, good times. =-)

And that was the first 2 days!
We didn't get back to our rooms 'til around midnight, and then Bunny texted me. She was the first to wish me a Happy Birthday. =-) (It's the same as Harry Potter's, and she thinks that is so cool. =-) )

Back in a couple days to show you some *more* pictures from our vacation.
=-)

Lessons

2011-07-20T18:09:00.000-04:00

I know i don't share much, and for that, i apologize. So with that in mind, hold on to your britches, 'cause
i'm gettin' ready to share!

I had the strangest thing happen yesterday, and i'm still affected by it today. So i thought i'd "write it out." For whatever reason, i can't seem to talk it out, so i thought i'd try coming here...

I've been wanting to get a tattoo for about a year now... Actually TWO tats. I want to have "Bunny" put on my left wrist and "Kitty" on my right. (Those are my daughters' nicknames, and they've always gone by them.)
Well, yesterday Kitty talked me into going to the tat studio where she and her sister go. I went to get an appointment from the guy who has done all of Bunny's tats. She's always spoken very highly of him and she thinks he's The Best. So that's who i wanted.

I was in the oddest mood on the way there; kidding a LOT, smart-ass and almost giddy! Kitty's boyfriend thought i was smoking crack or something. I was acting and feeling Weird!

Anyway, we got there and spoke with Gabe at the front desk.
Everything okay so far. I liked him. Nice guy. Cute. Good personality.
...Then...
Then Bunny's Tat Guy came to the front desk.
I thought everything was alright...
He seemed okay...
I made the appointment and paid my $40 down-payment.
...Then...
On the way back to the car, i just didn't feel right.
I felt like i shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have made that appointment. I don't know how to explain it, but i felt like i just made a mistake.

On the drive back home, i wasn't saying a word. It was like there was a black curtain around me. Somehow i'd just done something wrong.
And then i noticed that my stomach was tied up in knots.
I felt vulnerable, and almost like crying. Crying or throwing up. Or both.
I felt really really odd. In a bad way.

By the time i got home, i had decided that i wasn't going back.
I am not going to Bunny's Tat Guy for this tattoo.

I'm not sayin' i'll never get the tats. I'm just sayin' i'm not getting them from that guy. And i'm not gettin' 'em from that place.

I have no idea what my problem was.
I have NO idea why i got such a horrible feeling.
All i know is i'm not gonna go against that feeling.

I also wonder why i'm still feeling so... odd today.
I *think* it may be that i've never had anything like that happen before.
Also, i don't know exactly *why* i felt the way i felt yesterday, and it's bothering me today.
It's bothering me that i had such strong negative feelings.
It's bothering me that i don't understand where those feelings came from.
It's bothering me that i don't understand WHY i had those feelings.

It's bothering me that it's bothering me!

I went to Yoga this morning, but i was still feeling vulnerable. I felt like i shouldn't be there. But since i was there, i went ahead and did my Yoga. It's freeing and "releasing" for me. It helps me in many ways; mentally, physically, and more.
But i've felt vulnerable most of the day. I tried talking with Boyfriend about it, but i couldn't quite put it in words.

Thanks for "listening".
=-)

Hi There...

2011-07-13T16:33:00.000-04:00

You may not remember me...
It's been over a month since i last posted. [sheepish grin]
I've been traveling and what-not. And Life tends to get in the way of blogging, for me.
...that... and the Interwebs.
(I'm just telling the truth ,here.)

I've been doing Yoga since February of 2010, and lately, i've been wanting to "go deeper" and "do more" with my Yoga... whatever that means.
I'm not sure where it's going to take me, or where i'm going with it, but i just know i want "more".
So i've been reading a lot...
About Yoga.

I got a "Yoga Journal" magazine from the airport on my way to NYC back in May.
And in June i spoke with my Yoga teacher about "wanting more", and she recommended a couple of books:
How Yoga Works by Geshe Michael Roach & Christie McNally
It's a very good book! It reads like a story, but it has many messages in it. I *will* be reading it again. And again. It was moving, and thought-provoking, and interesting.
The other book she recommended is
Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss, PH.D.
I've just started this one, but it's very interesting so far. I'll probably have to read it a few times. It's a LOT of information.

I started this blog as a place to chronicle my Quilts, and to "hold some memories", and i hope i'm not going to become too "hippie" for you (but i have been "accused" of that before, so...).
But if you elect to leave, so be it.
That is, and has always been, your choice.
After all, as i've stated before, this blog is really mostly for me. If you get anything out of it, then... Bonus! =-)

I'm still checking out many others' blogs, but not as often as i used to.

And i've begun writing e-mails to others.
I'm trying to listen to the "little voice inside", and to heed it when it tells me to send Love and Light to someone.

I've never really been the type to phone others (Just ask my Mother and my Sister!), but lately i've been "needing" to send e-mails to others who i think need to know that "a stranger" is thinking about them and sending them love and good wishes.

I think the World needs more of that. Don't you?

So, before i "disappear" again, please allow me to remind you of "the simple things".
Appreciate the simple things;
the wind in your hair,
the sun on your face,
ALL the body parts you have that work so tirelessly (and thanklessly) for you,
the Day and the Night and all the precious time you have here on this Earth.

There are absolutely too many "simple things" for me to list. I'm certain you can think of more. Just sit there for a moment with your eyes closed, and bring to mind some of the "things" that you take for granted every day, and just
Sit in Gratitude for a bit.
...

There, now. Don't you feel better? =-)

photo by Bunny

I'll be back...
=-)

NYC Baby, Part III

2011-06-09T21:21:00.000-04:00

Saturday, April 28th, 2011
This day, we started out by once again grabbing a bite of breakfast from the deli on the corner. =-)
Then we met with a "native New Yorker" from an organization called
The Big Apple Greeters

If you've never heard of them, and you're planning on going to NYC (or you live there!), then you really should check this out!
The Big Apple Greeters is a non-profit organization that uses volunteers who live in New York, and have them "escort" you around the city for a few hours. They *used* to provide you with subway "Metro Cards" for the day, but they really don't make enough money to do that anymore, but, really, you can afford one for yourself. It's a *great* way to get around the city quickly. =-)

Anyway, we told our native Greeter, Richard, that we wanted to go see China Town, and he wanted us to walk the Brooklyn Bridge, so we hopped on the subway and headed out. Then we walked and walked and walked some more. But Richard was full of knowledge about New York's history and other stuff. He was very friendly and agreeable. It was a good time while we wound our way to the Brooklyn Bridge, and we walked from Brooklyn back into Manhattan. (We stayed in Manhattan the entire time, except this tiny little foray into Brooklyn to get to the start of the bridge.)

Suzanne, Kitty and me at the start of the Brooklyn Bridge

{HOW could i not think about sunscreen YET AGAIN?!?!}

They were working on the bridge, so we didn't really get a good picture of

The Statue of Liberty.

Then Richard, our Big Apple Greeter, showed us the way to China Town.

I forget what street this was, but here's

China Town! =-)

See the signs in Chinese?

It was awesome.

It was slower and quieter than the other parts of Manhattan where we'd been.

We bought some *awesome* cherries from a vendor.

But we didn't think to take any pics of the roasted pigs and ducks layed out.

This was a nice Chinese-style building...

If you look closely, you'll see there's a Starbucks "even in China Town".

And this is the closest we got to The Statue of Liberty...

The irony is... I think this was a Man!

Everybody has a gimmick to make money.

After walking and walking and walking alllllll day (did i mention we walked a lot?), we went dragging back to our apartment.
We got showers and stuff.
And my sister took pictures of my bruises from the Trapeze School because they just kept getting darker and darker.

My bruised legs the next day from

Trapeze School

This leg was way worse than the other one

I wish I had pictures of it each day as it got worse and worse.

It's *finally* getting better now... after almost TWO weeks!

My arm got hurt too, as i was flipping off of the net the first time.

Here are pictures of our apartment.

We stayed on 9th Ave between 48th & 49th Streets.

It was awesome!

And way cheaper than a hotel!

Here's the dining room.

Notice the 20 year old on the computer.

She was posting pics to FaceBook.

Here's the dining room/living room

and the front door is to the left.

The "couch" is really a futon, and that's where Suzanne slept.

This was a vacation-rental-by-owner type of place.

Here's the bedroom. One double and one single bed.

We went to Dangerfield's (as in "Rodney")

for the comedy show.

It was pretty good. Kitty really enjoyed it. Yay!

The other days, we walked a lot (big surprise, i know), and we went shopping on Canal Street, and we went to the Museum of Sex. Kitty *really* enjoyed that! She took tons of pictures in there! I may post some of those pictures if *anybody* requests 'em. =-)

Okay! That's it for now! It was a GREAT vacation (Thank you Suzi!!!)! If you have any questions about where we stayed or anything, just comment me and i'll do my best to answer you. =-)

Take Care!!!

=-)