A day with my mom...

A couple of weekends ago I went to Sonoma with my mom. We went to an art festival...ate some lunch...went to some shops...and then it began to rain!

We decided to duck into a little coffee shop. A very crowded little coffee shop. We ordered a latte, an earl grey and a slice of torte each...apricot for me, berry for mom. Somehow we lucked out and got a cozy little table by the window.

We talked and ate and took photos and watched the rain come down. It was a really good day...

creativity...can't live without it..

I love to make things. I always have. Ever since I was a little girl I loved to draw and cut and paste and paint and color. When I was 4 I wanted to be an artist "when I grew up". Expressing myself through creativity has been a part of me ever since I can remember.

I stopped making things for a period of time in my life...right around high school and on into my 20's. I dabbled here and there...but nothing ever stuck. Probably because whatever I tried never worked out how I wanted it to.

In my 30's I was home with two little boys. I wanted a way to make some extra money...and I wanted it to be creative. I ended up sewing pillows and making signs out of old fence boards to sell in a rented booth at a local craft mall. I really liked it. It was fun...and it was a nice way to make a little grocery money. It also made me feel like me.

After a while, things got weird at the craft mall. The owner made some really bad choices...and eventually it closed down. No more craft booth...

I ended up finding some amazing art groups online...mainly collage groups. I began cutting and pasting again...and felt like I was finding my self even more...I was 4 again, and I was listening to that artist I'd forgotten about so long ago.

For spiritual reasons, I had to let go of my connection to these online art groups. I was making art for MY glory...and not for the glory of God. I needed to take some time to realize that the only reason I AM creative is because God gave me that gift...the gift of artistic expression. And since it was from Him, it needed to be for Him.

In the meantime, someone gave me a camera. She just gave it to me. A Canon...35 mm...film. I was elated...I'd always loved photography...but had never really given it a try. Now was my chance. I took lots of photos...well, as many as I could afford. Film is expensive. You KNOW I was thrilled when the digital cameras came out...and became affordable. I got one for my birthday 4 years ago...and I haven't looked back.

At the beginning of the year I decided to try my hand at paper clay. I made some little heads that were fun...and the dolls that you see in the photo above. Recently I took a watercolor class with mom. And then I went and bought a few beginner's supplies to continue experimenting with watercolor painting. I have drawing pencils and drawing paper. Moleskine journals just waiting to be filled with creativity of one sort or another. I have piles of fabric and a quilters cutting mat waiting to be utilized and turned into a quilt...or something. I am not picky when it comes to the medium of choice...I love so many.

And can I just say...I love graph paper. Nothing like laying out a garden design on graph paper and embellishing it with colored pencil. Ever since I was...7 or 8 I have loved to look at floor plans...I wanted to be an architect for a time. (Should have followed through with that...) I still love to look at floor plans to this day. One of my favorite parts of the design class I took a few years back was drawing out the floor plan of my Dream Home. I enjoyed that part more than I did selecting the fabrics and furniture and window coverings!

Not sure where this post is going (or where it went, I should say)...or even where it started. This is my creativity in a nut shell...scattered, all over the place, rabbit trails...but that's OK...that's the good thing about art and creativity...there are no rules. Some people might say there are. But I disagree. Maybe some guidelines...but even those are optional. Art and creativity are a free expression of what's inside of us. And if you turn it into a bunch of rules...you take away what it's all about in the first place.

Creativity...it's a part of me. Always has been... Always will be...in one form or another.

spending the day with my mom...



Our instructor...Caren Dunn.

I have to tell you...I have the best mom in the world. I know, I know, you probably think that you have the best mom in the world. And that's fine...you can think that if you want. But I know the truth...and the truth is that I have the best mom in the world.

Not only did she bring me homemade chicken soup and a small casserole dish of Chicken Divan when I was so sick. (And even offered to clean my house!!) She also treated me to an art class last Saturday. Honestly, we weren't sure we were going to be able to go seeing as how I've been so under the weather lately. But...I just rested and rested all week and by Saturday I felt ready to get out of the house for a while and do some art with my mom. I figured it would be OK since we would just be sitting all day and painting.

Yes...painting. The class we took was a watercolor class at a cool little shop in Berkeley called Castle in the Air. We've been visiting this shop for the past few years on our annual Christmas shopping trips but only realized this past Christmas that they offer art classes! My mom called me a few days later and asked, "Do you wanna take a watercolor class with me in February?" And I was like, "Heck yeah I do!!" So...she signed us up. Woohoo !

The studio on the upper level of the shop...I want to live in this space...

Mom picked me up around 9am Saturday morning and we hit the road...headed to Berkeley. Everyone in the class was so nice...friendly...and ready to get creative. We painted all day long. And it was WONDERFUL.

The ladies at our table...my mom is the one on the left in the front...she's so pretty.

I have wanted to learn watercolor for years and years. I have bit the bullet and bought the supplies and sat down and just went for it a time or two in the past. But...let's just say...it wasn't pretty. Watercolor can be tricky...but like the instructor, Caren Dunn, said, if you know a few key things, it's doable. And she was right...it was doable. 


My painting...a WIP.

The instructor gave us each this same design and step-by-step showed us what to do. A wash in the background...what colors compliment other colors...which brushes work best for what...some shading and highlights...wet and dry painting techniques...even a trick or two with salt and flour! SO fun...what a cool day.

Sitting and painting all day is a really good thing to do...but it's even better when you get to sit and paint all day and be with your mom.

Thank you, mom, for a GREAT day. I love you.

paper clay.

I have wanted to try my hand at using paper clay for some time now. I was finally inspired to action when an artist I admire, Cathy Cullis, challenged herself to creating a "tiny head" a day...using paper clay.

After some thought...and some arguing...I finally just decided to give it a try. I grabbed my Michael's coupon and headed off to buy some paper clay.

Once I got home I set the bag aside...and moved on to other

things...laundry, dinner, homework, daydreaming, listing off all of the reasons why I shouldn't try yet another art medium...blah blah blah.

But...when dinner was done...and there were no more reasons why I shouldn't...I opened up the package of clay and just began to mold and sculpt. In a few minutes I had three heads, three hearts and two birds.

It took a few days for them to really dry nice and hard. I think because it's so cold. I imagine in the summer you could set them outside to dry and cure in no time.

Today...I will paint them.

They're not perfect. But they are done. Which means I made another step in the direction of DOING. And that's what's important.

bowls.

I got these bowls at the thrift store last week...on the first day of the new year. They're handmade...and unmarked...probably made by someone taking a pottery class, or something. I like them...I like the color, the texture, the size...they're just right for each of the boys to have one on their nightstand to corral little bits and bobs...keys and pocket knives and gum and nuts and bolts and...you know...boy stuff.

Speaking of pottery...I'm planning on taking a class beginning this month at the local community college. Would you believe I need it for my degree? Yeah...I do! I love it! I've wanted to take pottery for a while now. And painting. And drawing. And..any kind of art I can get my hands on.

I remember when I was attending the community college 20 years ago. I decided to major in Psychology...I was going to be a counselor...and live in a little old bungalow with lots of cats and a wild garden. I was taking all of the necessary psych classes in preparation. But every day I'd see the art students toting their portfolios and their huge sketch pads. I'd see them in the cafeteria...sketching their lunch...or their girlfriend. And I longed to be one of them...I wanted to be an art student.

For as long as I can remember I wanted to be an artist. I'm thinking I was around 4 when I decided that I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. An artist and a mommy. I loved to draw...and color...and paste. In Mrs. Dunbar's class in 2nd grade, if you got all your work done on time or if you scored the highest on your times tables test...you got to pick your free time activity first. And since I often scored well on my tests, I got to pick my free time activity. And every time...without fail...I chose art.

I'm not sure what happened along the way...when I lost that dream of being an artist. I don't know...

What I DO know is that I am finding myself with an opportunity, 20 years later, to be an art student. Even if it is just for a class or two...I'll take it.

I went for a drive on Sunday afternoon...

 It was cold and rainy on Sunday...but I was really wanting to take my camera out and snap some photos. It'd been too long...my camera bag was dusty...I couldn't find my cable to upload photos...all signs that it had been far too long since I'd taken pictures just for the heck of it.

I loaded up my camera bag...grabbed my Starbuck's gift card...and hit the road. That's me over there to the right...at the Starbuck's drive-thru. Can you see me? Waiting ever so patiently for that non-fat latte? Oh yeah...and extra hot. It was delicious...the perfect accompaniment to my rainy day drive in the country. An Artist's Date if you will...

Coffee in hand, wipers going and radio on, I headed down the road. I drove out to a popular hiking spot just outside of town...but the inspiration just wasn't there. I wandered around and took a few shots...but ended up back in the car in search of something...else.

I decided to drive to one of my favorite country roads in my area. It's only a couple miles outside of town but it seems much further away. It's a bit steep...and quite narrow in several spots. And maybe a teensy bit dangerous to drive alone...on a rainy and slippery day. (Or any day, really) But...I have 4WD...and I called Chris to let him know where he could find me should I not be home in a reasonable amount of time. Just in case...

The views are incredible. Sitting here in my tiny little corner of the world I forget sometimes that there's a great big beautiful world around me. 

I'm a sucker for tree tunnels.

I was gone for a little over an hour. And took almost a hundred photos. Gotta love digital, eh?  I kept a few...and deleted quite a few more. And decided I needed to work on my exposure.

I also decided that an Artist's Date is in order a little more often...

Art is a collaboration between God and the artist,

and the less the artist does the better. ~André Gide

Have you heard of Andy Goldsworthy?



leaves woven together with thorns.

 I learned about Andy Goldsworthy while taking my first online college course. He's an amazing artist. He creates every work out of all natural materials...leaves, sticks, rocks, snow, ice, sand, moss, trees, flowers...incredible sculptures. And for the most part, every one of them is temporary. He builds them in nature...in the elements...sometimes even racing tides to complete the work before the sea comes to wash it away.

Beautiful. Unbelievably beautiful.

There is an excellent documentary about him, Rivers and Tides, that I was able to borrow from my local library (so I imagine you can, too!). If you like art...and nature...and quiet ideas...and deep thoughts...then I think you'd like Goldsworthy and his art as much as I do.

The art fair.

Hi! I'm sorry it's taken so long to report about the art fair. What a whirlwind BUSY weekend! As a matter of fact...all of last week is a blur! But...everything worked out in the end and everything got done. Well, except for a load of whites so everyone had to scrounge around for socks Monday morning. But other than that...

We reported for our booth space at a little before 8am on Saturday morning with our cars jam packed with stuff. We set up the canopy, two tables for display and a card table as a "register" area. We used canvas drop cloths to cover the sides of the canopy as well as the display tables. It gave the booth a nice neutral and casual backdrop. As we were setting up and hanging pictures and standing easels, we realized that we probably could have had our own booths! We were pretty cozy in that little space!

My friend Chris could have had his own booth for sure. He has a TON of inventory that he's amassed over the past few years. Me? Umm...I could have. But it would have been a little sparse. I don't have a lot of inventory, especially larger pieces, as I am just getting started in this endeavor. However, I met a nice gal first thing in the morning...a fellow photographer named Jessica (who does amazing Polaroid transfers, by the way, and I forgot to BUY one!)...and she had her booth set up cute and she didn't have a TON of inventory. When I went down to visit her she said, "See? You could have your own booth." And she was right. I could have. Next time?

So once the booth was set up, a little before 10am, we were ready for business. And let me tell you, the place was hoppin'! There was a steady flow of people all.day.long. It was a beautiful day...sunny and warm with cool breezes. Perfect. (Except for the wind that picked up around 3 or so and had everyone running after business cards and holding on to their canopies for dear life!) So many friends and family came by to support us...I saw people I hadn't seen in years...and met some new people. All in all it was a good experience. I'll do it again...definitely.

Once all was said and done I came away with $100 profit that went directly into the Belgium Fund envelope. This doesn't include my initial investment of frames and mats. But it does include my booth fee and packaging materials.

Thank you for all of your encouragement and interest. I wish more of you could have been there...but it would have been a bit of a drive...so I understand. *wink* And I know you were there with me in spirit...which was almost as good!

Anyway...all in all it was good. But I have to say I would NOT have been able to do it without the help of several people. My mom first of all. Oh my goodness...she helped me with every aspect of getting my things ready. Frame selection..mat selection...photo selection...framing...all of the stuff that overwhelms me when I try to do it on my own. So...thank you, Mom!! You RULE!!

A thank you to my Dad who let me run by at the very last minute to borrow the card table and chairs. I literally called him from my cell phone to ask if I could borrow them and when he said yes I said, "Thanks! I'll be there in 30 seconds!" And I was. He loaded them in my car and off I went. Thanks Dad!

And a thank you to Aunt Lisa who loaned me drop cloths and cool display pieces. She left a variety of things on her dining table for me to choose from...I went by while she was at work and borrowed what I needed. So thank you Aunt Lisa!! The addition of your cool stuff helped make the booth look interesting! (And by the way...Ollie is a VERY good watch dog...ahem. I like his pointy teeth and deep guttural growl. As Jenna would say...NBD.)

Also a thank you to Chris and Pat, my friends who joined me in this endeavor. They are husband and wife and helped me immensely. Pat was our secretary...setting up our booth fees and information...making the calls and dropping off the money. Thank you, Pat! And Chris saved my life at the last minute when my glassine envelopes hadn't arrived. He happened to have two packs of the exact sizes I needed and let me buy them from him. Whew!! That was close!

Seriously...I could not have done this on my own. Wait, I take that back...I could have. But I'd have been sitting on the ground, Indian style, holding down a half assembled canopy and selling my photos out of the envelopes they arrived in from the developer!

today is the day...

This is where I'll be today...ALL day...selling my wares.

Wish me luck!

May Artisan Fair

Getting ready for the art fair this weekend...I'm selling photo note cards...photos in mats...and framed photos. Mom and I went to Aaron Bros. yesterday and spent almost three hours picking out mats and frames! Thank goodness she helped me...I'd have collapsed if I had to make all those choices on my own!

The fair is on Saturday from 10-5. I'm sharing a booth with a friend...he also does photography but our styles are completely different. He does amazing landscapes and wildlife photography. His photos are very masculine...so as Chris said, we'll have something for everyone!

I have a lot of work yet to do...framing, matting, more note card assembly...not to mention gathering props for our booth...crates, drop cloths, chunky baskets...I hope it looks like I imagine that it will! I'll take pictures...and let you know how it goes. All my proceeds are going toward my ticket to Belgium...so pray that our efforts are a success.

Off to start my day...up next...work!

photo assignment: composition and perspective

Recently, some blogging friends, Camilla and Carolyn, started a fun blog, C&C Photography where they will post weekly photography challenges. This week's challenge was: composition and perspective. And I have to say...this was a fun one! I really enjoyed this challenge...and I really liked my subject...the old biscuit cutters I got at the yard sale last weekend for 50 cents!

So...here you go. Biscuit cutters...as I see them.

#1: As the eye sees it...

#2: bird's eye view...

#3: up close...

#4: off center...

#5: out of focus...

...and one extra...because I liked it...

And I just have to tell you this story...

Yesterday afternoon I looked out the window and realized the lighting would be great for this project. So I went into the kitchen to have myself a little photo challenge! As I was setting things up for the challenge...laying out the unbleached, muslin towel...laying out the old, rusty biscuit cutters...my husband watched with a puzzled look on his face. But after I took my first shot and looked at the screen on the back of my camera with him peering over my shoulder he said, "You definitely have an eye for this because I wasn't seeing it. Then I saw that picture and thought 'hey, those things are cool!'."

I'm thinking that was the best compliment ever.

Before I know it...

...it will be time to board a plane, fly over the ocean for a day (chomping my finger nails at the very thought, thankyouverymuch), and spend 10 days in Belgium.

Because so many of you are supporting me...both in prayer and through financial support...I have decided to include you in this process of preparing for my ministry trip.

While in Belgium I will be speaking...possibly just to women, but maybe not...about depression. I will be sharing biblical tools that the Lord has given me over the years to combat those dark times. I will be sharing that God is my anti-depressant...and He can be theirs, too.

Another project that God put on my heart for this trip is to create a small devotional...I envision it small enough to toss in your purse. It will be full of encouragement and scripture. It will also include some of my photos. This idea is still a bit foggy...but God has already given me notes...and possible "chapter" titles. I have created a Publisher document so that when the inspiration strikes it is ready to go. All I have to do is open it and type.

I'm really excited about this project, I have to admit. I am a creative person through and through. There is a part of me that needs to make things...whether it's food or a garden or a clothespin doll or a collage or a photo...doing these things fulfills a need in me that goes way back to when I was a little girl. I have been creative from the start...beginning with coloring pictures and sitting and drawing with my Papa. He's the master of profiles. I never could quite get it. I was more of a house and a flower and a tree kinda girl.

I remember in 2nd grade I would always be the first to finish my times tables so that I could be the first to choose my free time activity...ART.

And in 3rd grade I decided I wanted to write a book. And I did. Mrs. Addison helped me. I got an A. Or was it extra-credit? Either way...it was awful. And my mom still has it. I was so proud of that dang book. Guess what the title was? I have no idea what I was thinking. It was titled, "Kathy". What?! That's the best I could come up with? Anyway...it was fun nonetheless. I wrote it and did the illustrations. It was about, yes, you guessed it, Kathy. And her mom got pregnant. And someone wanted a boy and someone wanted a girl...so guess what?!! It turns out her mom was pregnant with TWINS...a boy AND a girl. Imagine that?!

Oh my...what can I say? I was 8.

Anyway...isn't it interesting to look back on your life to see the things that God placed in you from the start? And then to see how those interests and desires come full circle to become something that God had planned for you. It's amazing. And so is God.

I humbly ask you to continue to pray for me...for inspiration, for clarity, for peace, for TIME and that I'm able to get it all done. I still have to send out my donation letter to friends and family. I'm late in doing that...again, the whole "asking for money" thing is tough for me. But...I need to raise the money, SOON...and I need help in doing it...so I will work on that this weekend. I also need to get my passport going. Costco takes pictures for $5 each...and I need to make a Costco run anyway...so I plan on doing that next week. Butter, tortillas and a passport. Interesting.

I'm also adding some more note cards to my Etsy shop in a little while...take a look if you'd like. All proceeds go toward The Belgium Project.

Is there anything else you'd like to be kept up on that I've forgotten to mention? Or do you have any questions about the ministry...the devotional...me...whatever? Just leave a comment or send me an email...if I have the answer I'll be happy to share with you!

a good mail day!

Last week I sold the last of my Mimi dolls on Etsy so I had a bit of money in my Paypal account...just sitting there. Which is fine, except, at the same time, one of my favorite artists, Cathy Cullis, began doing "daily drawings" and selling them in her Etsy shop.

Well, one day I ventured over to her shop and saw a print that I just fell in love with. And do you know...it was in my price range?! I was SO excited. And I bought it...right then and there.

Every day I checked the mailbox...knowing full well that it would take a while since she'd be shipping from the UK. But still...I couldn't help myself!

Well, today was the day. I opened my mailbox to find the long awaited package...with Cathy Cullis as the return addressee. Woohoo!!

I carefully opened the package..with a steak knife. (I don't have a letter opener...!)

Inside were moo cards...copies of some of her other drawings...a photo of one of her little dolls that she makes...and of course, the piece de resistance...

...this. My print. Girl with tiny scissors in her hair. Oh my...don't you just love her? Oh...I do.

Can you see her tiny scissors?

Aren't they adorable?

I am so glad that I purchased her. There's something about buying art from the artist. Knowing that she made it...by hand. That it was made in London...in her home...maybe while dinner was cooking, you know? It wasn't made in a factory...along with a thousand others just like it. And I love that. It's like slow food...only with art.

Girl with tiny scissors in her hair. A little piece of original artwork...for me.

Thank you, Cathy...I love her! (Not that Ms. Cullis visits here...but just in case!)

Have you heard of a "zine"?

It's like a magazine. But not. It's smaller. And handmade. And...well...here's a link to someone who explains it better than me...

In my desperation for an art project a few months back, I signed up for a zine exchange.

And " F I G " was born.

What a blast this was to make. It's 20 pages...quarter-page in size...and fun to hold in my hand. Each cover is a mini collage made of bits of paper and fabric scraps...uniquely made for each one. No two are alike. I made them on paint samples...they were the perfect size. Can you say, "reuse"? I made 12...I'm sending 10 to the host of the exchange...and one to my friend Jeannine. I hope they're well-received.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The family is gone again today...day two of the baseball tourney. They left at 6:30am...and I've been sipping coffee and reading blogs since. Well, after I got a load of laundry going, that is.

My plans for the day are...do laundry, make art, take pictures, cook a good dinner. I don't know what yet. But whatever it is...it's going to be good. And it's going to include kale, new potatoes and onions...all from the CSA. It's been such a busy week we haven't eaten much but some apples and the mandarins.

The timer just buzzed...oatmeal must be ready. It's a special blend my Aunt Lisa shared with me...and it is SO good. She read on my blog that I was craving iron and she showed up at my work with a Mason jar full of her special oatmeal. Thanks Aunt Lisa! Time for breakfast!

Happiness is...

...chickens in my backyard.

...four teenage boys (and one 'tween!) in my car on the way to baseball practice last night.

...a little bit of rain this morning.

...a quiet house.

...a cup of coffee.

...quiet time with the Lord.

...healthy kids.

...good marriage with my sweet hubby.

...endless possibilities.

...the anticipation of canning with my mom this summer.

...business looking up.

...cool breezy mornings.

...hanging laundry to dry.

...kindred spirits.

...giveaways!

What's making YOU happy today?

I've been wanting to do a giveaway for some time now...I think I'll try it today! Leave a comment, letting me know what's making YOU happy today and be entered into a drawing to win an original lino cut made by yours truly. This is open to anyone and everyone...even if you've never commented before. I'd love to hear from you!

**Giveaway will be on Friday...name will be drawn randomly.**

A part of me.

You may have noticed this piece of artwork in my sidebar. This is a piece I did years ago for an art gallery in Oregon. I used to do art a lot. Mainly collage. I was involved in online art groups and took part in many, many art exchanges and projects. This is what took up my spare time. And I loved it. A lot. This was a way for me to escape...to express myself...to work with my hands and allow what was inside to come outside.

But...several years ago we had company coming. And we had nowhere for them to sleep! So I had to pack up the little room that I was fortunate to have for myself for art and turn it into a guest room.

And once the guests left...it became Ian's room.

And since then...my art supplies have been in boxes in the shed. Every once in a while I go out there and open the boxes...and rummage through...longing to create again.

I switched my craft to lino cuts last year...fewer supplies...less room needed to make stuff...etc. But still...it takes up my dining room table because there's nowhere else to do it.

I haven't made art in over a year. And it is getting to me. I need a creative outlet. I need to get my fingers sticky with glue and paint...I need to snip little bits of paper and glue them together....I need to take nothing and make it something.

If I don't, I feel like a part of me is missing.

Someday...I will make art again.

Craving creativity...

Lino prints and sketches and tools.

It's a nice rainy weekend...perfect for some creative time!