Love in a Forest

decided to have some fun with the "volcanic" ClayBord ....

boy loves girl....

i love the sanctity of my studio...

small pleasures....

....sigh

Whew..........

***GRINCH ALERT***

DON'T GO ANY FURTHER

IF YOU AREN'T PREPARED

FOR A LITTLE  LOT OF WHINING.....

Things have been....shall we say....a wee bit stressful around Casa Jody lately!

I'll begin with my job...I have worked for the Sheriffs' Office here in my county

 for thirteen years. We elect a new Sheriff every four years. At the end of each

four year term we automatically don't have a job....even if the same Sheriff keeps

the office. We have to reapply just as if we've never worked there. Well...we have

a new Sheriff taking office this January so I may or may not have a job next year.

Needless to say that put a crimp on Christmas.

Next....my oldest daughter moved into my already small home with her two children...

my thirteen yr old grandson and ten yr old granddaughter...until she can get her tax return

(something that's NOT looking promising here in the States any time soon!) and

find a place of her own. Talk about a MAJOR change for me....I feel I've been

displaced in my own home.

And....in the middle of all this my MacBook Pro died....leaving me without Photoshop CS5

and all the other software I use in my art!!!! It's the logic board....the mother board in a PC.

And no....of course...I don't have anything backed up and no reinstall CDs for the CS5.

I do keep all my art and images on a jump drive so I've got that.

So now I need to decide if I should invest $500 to fix a six yr old laptop or put that

towards a new one and HOPE I can salvage my software and data from the hard drive.

Not a decision I'm prepared to make without knowing I have a job January 1st.

In the meantime I've pulled out this thirteen yr old PC with all its' quirks just to

be able to do anything.

Soooooooo....I found myself at home alone...WONDERFUL....WONDERFUL...

and decided to make a little art to soothe my soul. I grabbed a ClayBord and began

layering plaster...gesso...and paint. After an hour or so as I started a new layer

the whole shebang slid off the board leaving me with this:

Note to self... stick to the wood panels for this kind of art....another lesson learned! 

 Oh well....I can start over now with the layers since the clay is gone.

 And working in my studio.......

 it really was good for my soul!





Zentangle #4

blind contour drawing of owl...zentangled...

scanned and printed on watercolor paper

then added a little color....

yes...i'm definitely liking this!

Zentangle #3

still zentangling.......

Zentangle #2

I'm soooooooooo....addicted!

I can see these made into PNG files for my digital art.....

My current obsession.....

 Zentangle.....my current obsession........

Down the Rabbit Hole.........

My friend Dottie has a group meeting every Tuesday night in her studio.

It's  been called 'The Gathering Place' for as long as I've attended.

We are an eclectic bunch....young...old...artists..writers...healers...

energy workers...energy readers....

We have the most wonderful meetings with topics from all our

different interests discussed ...usually with a little art..and always

much love and laughter.

Our meeting tomorrow night heralds in a new format.

I'm not sure exactly what the change will be other than

the name...it will now be called 'The Rabbit Hole'.

On hearing this last week my mind immediately went

to Ingrid Dijkers tunnel book based on Alice In Wonderland.

So....I've made one for Dottie to celebrate our

new direction.....sorry for the poor lighting!



pockwatchies and sunbeams.....

sunday's walk....

aho neighbor...

pockwatchie?

surrounded by the whispering trees...

wrapped in the loving glow of grandfather sun...

all is well with my soul this bright

sunny sunday....

How have I frighted thee....

"O sleep, O gentle sleep,
Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee,
That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down
And steep my sense in forgetfulness?"

~ Shakespeare

sleep eludes me of late....

be it the moon...the ghost of 

my ancestors visiting each night...

or just all the aches and pains of 

this old body...it appears sleep

has been "frighted" from me...

desperately seeking sleep....

(owl element by eenas creation)

mizz unconventional does thanksgiving.....

i have more to be thankful for than anyone would

care to read about...so...let me say how thankful i am

for my new cookbooks!

I just got Home Made and Home Made Winter by

yvette van boven.....such LOVELY books.

the recipes and the photos are to die for!

everything is fresh...made from scratch...

even how-to's for making your own

cheese...butter...yogurt...and sausage.

i'm looking forward to trying some of her

soups...breads...and flavored butters on

the upcoming winter days.

being the unconventional person that i am...

my thanksgiving meal was a spinach quiche (my

own recipe) with creme fraiche and a little
spinach/artichoke spread on the side. and for
dessert i made her white chocolate coffee. i
 improvised some and used chopped white chocolate
 chips and a packet of starbucks via...ready brewed

iced coffee. i put the heavy cream with a 

spot of sugar and vanilla in my "magic

bullet" to whip up the cream. had this

wonderful concoction and a couple of 

key lime cookies to top off my meal.

YUM!

being the glutton that i am...now i'm

waiting for Home Made Summer...

due out next may.

and let me also add that among the

many things that i count as blessings

are you....my "cyber" friends.

sending each and every one of you

healing and peaceful energy this

thanksgiving day....

aho...

loopty loops among the stardust....

today finds my space cowboy much on my mind...

this day he earned his permanent wings...

sending hugs and kisses his way as he

loopty loops among the stardust....

singing over the bones....

La Loba…..

Wolf Woman…

sing your sweet souls voice over these desiccated bones

and bring them back to life

before they become powder

and are stolen by the wind…

i am much in need of a

singing over the bones…



Thanks Veterans

Happy Veterans Day!

to all of you who have

served our country....

THANKS!

out of sorts.......

 
 please accept my apologies for being such an awful blogger....

i've been out of sorts....

things have been a little too "heavy" in my world lately.

i know in the grand scheme of things there are those far worse off

than myself....among them the poor Sandy victims.

we all handle stress differently....my way is usually:

long walks...

quiet reflection...

silence...

silence...

silence...

sometimes the burden of always being the one expected

to spin lead into gold becomes overwhelming...
no one sings my life like Van...

Philosophers Stone

Van Morrison

Out on the highways and the by-ways all alone

I'm still searching for... searching for my home

Up in the morning... up in the morning ...out on the road

and my head is aching... and my hands are cold

And I'm looking for the silver lining... silver lining in the clouds

and I'm searching for...

and I'm searching for...

the philosophers stone

And it's a hard road... it's a hard road... daddy-o

when my job is turning lead into gold

He was born in the back street, born in the back street... Jelly Roll

I'm on the road again and I'm searching for

the philosophers stone

Can you hear that engine

Woe... can you hear that engine drone

well I'm on the road again and I'm searching for...

searching for the philosophers stone

Up in the morning... up in the morning

when the streets are white with snow

It's a hard road... it's a hard road ...daddy-o

Up in the morning,...up in the morning

out on the job

Well you've got me searching for

searching for... the philosophers stone

Even my best friends... even my best friends...they don't know

that my job is turning lead into gold

When you hear that engine... when you hear that engine drone

I'm on the road again and I'm searching for the philosophers stone

It's a hard road... even my best friends ...they don't know

and I'm searching for... searching for...

 the philosophers stone.




(hidden vintage digital elements)

made of stardust......

rebel n : one who rebels

opposes or disobeys authority

she refused to live by the rules set forth by society

choosing instead to follow the words whispered to

her by the ancients.....words for which there is no

human translation...a primal language...felt rather

than heard....telling her...

you are made of stardust...

gathered from all your past lifetimes...

shine... 

a boxy, insecure, wise ass, introverted doodler

here's a cold hard fact...

i'm a doodler. yep...a doodler! pretty much 

every paper..envelope..calendar..whatever.. is covered 

in doodles. case in point.. a scrap from my desk at work.

i'm not alone...there's even a doodlers anonymous.

evidently doodles can be analyzed just like handwriting

a quick search on google turned up these interpretations:

- Doodles of people tend to reflect the writer's self-image or body image.

- Doodles of houses can indicate how secure-or insecure-someone feels.

- Pictures of animals can show sensitivity to others' needs or feelings.

- Pictures of boxes can indicate organization and structure.

- Abstract images with lots of lines and angles can show that the person is a very

 critical thinker (being able to go from Point A to Point B), whereas abstracts that

 are more curved can show warmth, openness, and flexibility.

- Flowers can indicate growth and development-or its lack!

(One thing to consider: Are the flowers alive or dead?)

- Heavy pressure can show strength, decisiveness, and determination.

- Large doodles may be done by someone who is extroverted and

likes attention. Small doodles may come from someone who can

 focus well, has good motor coordination, and is more reserved.

so my body image is "boxy"....hmm sounds about right..

TWO houses...REALLY insecure!

an owl isn't really an animal but considered "wise"...wise ass? ..yeah

i do see some "boxy" shapes....my square self is organized!

lots of angles AND curves.. my thinking appears a little ac/dc

there's some heavy pressure in there...determination...i gots it!

all this on a 4 x 6 inch scrap paper so... introverted....absolutely!

(which reminds me of a GREAT article by Eli Bishop on introverts.)

who knew doodling could be so informative.....

Ten Words and One Shot

who doesn't love a peek inside an artists space?
here's a glimpse inside my humble studio....and yes....it's pretty much
always this messy ( i spend LOTS of time looking for stuff!)
and that old beat up recliner is where i greet the morning
with a cup of joe or sit and gaze at the stars on the nights
i'm not doing a little porch sitting. it's my favorite spot
inside my home.

 

i ran across the blog  tenwordsandoneshot .
"Ten words to outline and one shot to give you an idea."
that's the concept. it lets you get into the mind and workspace
 of some very creative people.

i love Stampingtons magazine...Where Women Create for the same reason.

as C.S. Lewis said: "we read to know we are not alone".

i'm thanking the cyber gods for giving me the opportunity
to find my pack!



drifting.......

a Haley Morris animated film:

"a drifting man struggles to pull objects from the roiling sea below him

and scrambles to keep the objects from slipping through his fingers." a

representation of the progression of alzheimers disease inspired by

morris's grandfather.

alzheimers is such a cruel disease

robbing the person of their memories

and their loved ones of the person

today i am remembering my mother

whom i lost a year and a half before

she passed

sending kisses and hugs on the wind...



another rainy monday...

"talkin' to myself and feelin' old

sometimes I'd like to quit

nothin' ever seems to fit

hangin' around

nothin' to do but frown

rainy days and mondays

always get me down...."

i'm sitting here having a cup of joe

and nursing a throbbing finger (i stabbed myself

with a pair of scissors in my studio last evening) as

i prepare to head out into this

cool...rainy day to call on a few folks

with bigger problems than mine. with times

like these burglaries are all too common in

our little part of the world. their loss of valuables

is nothing compared to their loss of security.

we can't always find the thieves and return their items

but my goal for the day is to try and put a smile on

their face and hopefully ease their fears.

i hope you're warm and safe this crisp fall morning.

this public servant is sending up prayers for those in need.....

Little notes from the Universe.....

 I believe that guardian angels take many shapes and forms.

I've always known that mine come to me as birds...

From as far back as I can remember I have always been

surrounded by birds... and gifted with their feathers...

little notes from the Universe

just to let me know...

I'm being watched over...

and to remind me to celebrate life...

 

The Judgement of the Birds ~ Loren Eiseley

"The sun was warm there...and the murmurs of forest life blurred softly away into my sleep.

When I awoke...dimly aware of some commotion and outcry in the clearing...the light was

slanting down through the pines in such a way that the glade was lit like some vast cathedral.

I could see the dust motes of wood pollen in the long shaft of light...and there on the extended

branch sat an enormous raven with a red and squirming nestling in his beak.

The sound that awoke me was the outraged cries of the nestlings parents...who flew helplessly

in circles about the clearing. The sleek black monster was indifferent to them. He gulped...

whetted his beak on the dead branch a moment and sat still. Up to that point the little

tragedy had followed the usual pattern. But suddenly...out of all the area of woodland...

a soft sound of complaint began to rise. Into the glade fluttered small birds of half a

dozen varieties drawn by the anguished outcries of the tiny parents.

No one dared to attack the raven. But they cried there in some instinctive common

misery...the bereaved and the unbereaved. The glade filled with their soft rustling

and their cries. They fluttered as though to point their wings at the murderer.

There was a dim intangible ethic he had violated...that they knew. He was the bird

of death.

And he...the murderer...the black bird at the heart of life...sat on there...glistening

in the common light...formidable...unmoving...unperturbed...untouchable.

The sighing died. It was then I saw the judgement. It was the judgement of

life against death. I will never see it again so forcefully presented. I will never

hear it again in notes so tragically prolonged. For in the midst of protest...they

forgot the violence. There...in that clearing...the crystal note of a song sparrow

lifted hesitantly in the hush. And finally...after painful fluttering...another took the

song...and then another...the song passing from one bird to another...doubtfully

at first...as though some evil thing were being slowly forgotten. Till suddenly

they took heart and sang from many throats joyously together as birds are

known to sing. They sang because life is sweet and sunlight is beautiful. They

sang under the brooding shadow of the raven. In simple truth they had forgotten

the raven...for they were the singers of life...and not death." 

When Women Were Birds ~ Terry Tempest Williams

"Once upon a time when women were birds...there was the simple

understanding that to sing at dawn and to sing at dusk was to heal

the world through joy. The birds still remember what we have forgotten...

that the world is meant to be celebrated."

little acts of kindness.........

I saw something like this on Pinterest and loved

the idea! These were set up in Photoshop then I printed

the "need" on blue paper and the "smile" on yellow.

I've got a stack of them to hang in random spots around

my little town.

The ones below are saved as jpgs if you're interested

in your own little acts of kindness......

Listen to the Water Spirits......

Do you have a favorite place to unwind?

When I need to center myself I park in the creek

at the farm and listen to the water spirits....

See for yourself...

Be sure to turn your speakers up...

http://youtu.be/P3wqMLHo-6o

My beautiful....magical....place!

Remember happiness.....

My dear friend is going through a heart breaking family ordeal...

as we are miles from each other I can only comfort

her with emails...phone conversations...and texts...

My hope is that she will remember happiness...

"It is difficult to know what to do

with so much happiness.

With sadness there is something

to rub against...

a wound to tend with lotion and cloth.

When the world falls in around you...

you have pieces to pick up...

something to hold in your hands...

like ticket stubs or change.

But happiness floats.

It doesn't need you to hold it down.

It doesn't need anything.

Happiness lands on the roof

of the next house... singing...

and disappears when it wants to.

You are happy either way.

Even the fact that you once lived

in a peaceful tree house

and now live over a quarry of noise

and dust cannot make you unhappy.

Everything has a life of its own...

it too could wake up filled with possibilities

of coffee cake and ripe peaches...

and love even the floor

which needs to be swept...

the soiled linens and scratched records.

Since there is no place large enough

to contain so much happiness...

you shrug... you raise your hands...

and it flows out of you...

into everything you touch.

You are not responsible.

You take no credit...

as the night sky takes no credit

for the moon... but continues to hold it...

and to share it...

and in that way...

be known."

~ Naomi Shihab Nye
(art card made with deviant scrap nbc love the world digital kit)

Chocolate and Zucchini Cake.....

Want a beautiful visual experience?

The food on Lakshmis blog.. looks exquisite!

This chocolate and zucchini cake looks wonderful

but....chocolate and pumpkin....oh my!



Sharpies and alcohol.....



Sharpies and alcohol...

pretty cool stuff.....

I'm gonna try this on jersey knit

for a 'no sew' scarf.

maybe scan some results in

to use as backgrounds for my digital art....

hmmm.....



The Ancients.....

I've been working on this piece for about a week now.

It's a mixed media piece with encaustic over plaster and

acrylic.....my first attempt at wax over plaster. I LOVE the

texture of the plaster but it made applying the wax a little 

hard. It ended up way too thick in places and I had to scrape

back and fuse again....so... I made a trip to Charlotte today and

picked up some Dorlands "cold wax". 

I'm really excited about learning this whole cold wax process.

You mix cold wax with oil paint and basically build up your 

picture just like encaustic....then do any "excavating" you'd

like.....no heat needed and less fumes...although with the

oils you do still need good ventilation. 

I do love living in the sticks but often wish I lived somewhere

that I could actually take classes instead of always having to

 teach myself.....thank goodness for the internet and youtube!

Who knew...........

Sir Anthony Hopkins........

one of my absolutely favorite actors!

(I just watched Shadowlands again this weekend.)

But a composer...........

Who knew!

Sooooooo buying this!

Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhh.................

aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhh...........

I've just spent some "quality" time with my old nemesis....

THE SEWING MACHINE!

I want to do some free motion sewing....
a little hard to do when you don't know how to sew...

I actually embarrassed myself with the words

that came out of my mouth....

It took me over an hour to figure out the whole 

threading/bobbin thingy....sigh...

Now for the 'tension' problem....

oh yeah....there's a tension problem 

going on here ...and on the stitches too.

I picked up this book by Alisa Burke yesterday....

LOVIN' it! Now if I can just calm down enough

to figure out what I'm doing wrong.....

Just look at this scarf from her book.....WANT!

I'd like to think I'll be able to do the straight stitching

to make this if I can ever get the hang of the 

free motion stuff.....

so far it's:

SEWING MACHINE.....1

justjody......0