NEW INSPIRATION

acrylic on 14 x 16 gallery wrap canvas ready to hang

$75 + $10 shipping

Where does inspiration come from?

To me this is the great mystery of life.

Creativity seems to be the one constant in my life that cannot be harnessed. Well maybe it can be wrangled in, but truthfully, I've never tried. I just hang around my materials and resources and wait for it to strike.

Like Cupid, you could say.

Actually I tend to think of this little quirk in my life as a gift. It arrives without warning and leaves me with a sense of wonder and a belief in some divine universal force that drives us through each moment of life.

May inspiration strike the depths of your heart today.

ALMOST CHRISTMAS !

We are just a few days away from the Christmas Holidays. I've planned to take some time off and delight in the joy of my jammies and my studio for 11 straight days. Yippee !

Looking towards the new year, hey, did I say that? I've never in my entire life looked towards the new year but for some reason about 30 days or so ago, a switch flipped inside of me and things, life, people, jobs, my body, my work, my art have all shifted.

I'm looking forward to marketing my art. I'm letting go of the things, people, places, events that have been weighing me down. No I've not been in therapy. No I've not changed my drugs. No I've not been widowed or divorced. Something shifted.

I used to say I'm not a morning person. I used to get on the treadmill at night and I hated it, I dreaded it, I actually cried a few times while on the darned thing. One day (quite some time ago) a friend told me he runs early in the morning because then he gets it out of the way, it frees him up to do and think about other things during the day and he doesn't waste so much energy talking himself into running later when he'd rather be doing something else. Well I guess I filed this away somewhere in my brain because for some reason one morning I woke up at 5am, got out of bed and got on the treadmill. Didn't even have to think about it. Me, the 'NOT A MORNING PERSON" has been up and on the treadmill everyday for over a month now. Go figure.

I think the universe is smiling down on me. I think it has been all along but something within me was blocking the glow.

I very rarely post to this blog without also publishing an image. Image person that I am. But somehow today, all the words seemed "just enough".

Have a great day and drop me a line, I love hearing from you.

SOME THINGS TO THINK ON

Scan of a postcard made and sent to my daughter-in-law.

Sorry, it has post office goop on it.

What will 2008 be like for you?
Different?
Will you create a cure for horrible disease?
Maybe your love will heal someone's heart.
Or, when you close your eyes you'll hear music and smell flowers.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

ETSY SHOP UPDATE !

Well after laboring long and hard the new baby is nearly born !! There is still a bit of tweaking to do but many of my works of art are now up at Etsy.

Keep checking back, I'm on a pretty fast learning curve here ! Whew! Can you feel the wind rushing through your hair !

QUEEN OF THE FLOCK

12 x 12 acrylic on 2" gallery wrap canvas w/found crown and beads
$125 + shipping

Just once in a blue moon
will you ever meet a
bird like this ?

HOLY MOLEY, OVER RULED BY MY HUSBAND WHO THINKS THIS SHOULD REALLY BE "QUEEN OF THE FLOCK" INSTEAD OF MEET BUSTER !

He's had a few too many holiday treats and with that crown it is evident he has an ego to match his bottom !!

Buster joins me in thanking everyone who stopped to comment on my little melt-down last week about being "cute". You know, I've decided my art is what it is and if someone thinks it is cute then more power to them. Art is something that only the viewer can assign meaning too. Either you like it or you don't, you think it is cute or gross or bland.

I tend to think that what you think of me is none of my business and on a personal level that is really quite true. I am who I am and so be it ~ the same goes for my art. Even if it does bring up scary stuff from time to time.

I am grateful for each and every comment I recieve no matter what the content. Your honest comments are what allow me to grow.

Jeez, isn't life great ??? !!!!

WHAT IS ON MY MIND TODAY

I'm generally a person of few words here at this blog but today I stopped in over at Andrea Pratt's blog and her post created a fire storm of emotion for me.

I've thought about opening an Etsy shop. The posts at Andrea's really made me stop and think long and hard about the value of that idea.

Lately I've been getting a few comments on my art posted here. A couple of people have used the word "cute". Now PLEASE don't get me wrong, I really truly appreciate ANY comment I get because, well, quite frankly I get so few comments so any affirmation of my work is of value to me. But, do I want my work to be seen as "cute" ??

Oh, god, I feel so damned lost as an artist.

I have friends who tell me they think my art is remarkable. Let's be honest here, how much stock should a person put in the opinion of friends?

I had four pieces at a boutique gallery for nearly a year. Only two items ever sold. I know, I know someone will say "find your audience". That is true. And if I want this to happen I need to make it happen for myself. No one else will do it for me.

So on the other side of this, my friend who is such a champion of my work is bringing two people to my house today to look at furniture and art for potential purchase. I guess she feels strongly enough about my work to talk it up to her network. I'm excited, scared. What next?

Off to think on this some more......................

If anyone is out there, your honest feedback is what I really need right now.

THIS SAYS IT ALL, DON'T YOU THINK???

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

Once in a blue moon, you might see a green camoflouge cow.

A BIRD WHO RAN AWAY FROM HOME

I love birds. Don't really know why for sure.
When I first painted this, it felt a bit too
folky. But then I started thinking about
the story this bird held under her wing,
close to her heart.

I think if you click on the image you'll get
an expanded view and then you
will be able to read "her story".

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

MORE ADVENTURES IN FURNITURE

Here is another of my husband's tables that I painted. What do you think?

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

Here "Jack" the first installment of my
Once in a Blue Moon Series.
I just love this guy.

SWEET BABY STUART

"Hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul
and sings the tunes without the words
and never stops
at all. "
Emily Dickenson

It seems impossible that Stuart would be 29. Sometimes I tell myself the pain has eased. Sometimes I even manage to let the date slip by altogether.

Be nice, live fully, love your children.

Copper Poppy

So this weekend I ran out of fresh canvases so resorted to a postcard. I haven't done these in quite some time and I guess I didn't realize how vital they are to my creative process.

KEEP IT SIMPLE AND BE NICE

MIDDLE OF NOWHERE - NEW MEXICO

This little old guy was really something. He announced to the few locals in the little market that he was out to bag some rabbits, and had anyone seen some good ones. Yikes.

I just love these back roads of New Mexico.

I always try imagine what these folks do for a living, how do they make enough money to pay the bills. Out here in the middle of nowhere, I doubt they have huge living expenses, what with no Starbucks, fast food, Hobby Lobby. Well, you guessed it, my imagination always comes up dry. I guess the guy behind the wheel relies on rabbits for dinner.

And then of course I start thinking about our culture, our society, our consumption. Our need for new jeans and the latest style boots.

What is really important in life? Rabbits or jeans? Perception is everything I guess.

BEHIND THE RED DOOR

I always love looking at the images of doors that other people post at their blogs. So here is my contribution. The colors jumped out at me in the cool autumn air.......and imagine the almost overwhelming smell of apples on trees, lying the in the grass........that was the scene. Fall is my favorite time of year. My children were born in the Fall, I once lived in New England where the Fall season is spectacular and I guess, well, I just love the Fall. What else is there to say????? I'm such a visual person that words often escape me.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

I just love her face. Looking at our lives with love and compassion. I so much need a warm mother figure in my life.

I took this photo Sunday afternoon in Cuba, New Mexico.

AUTUMN APPLES

Autumn is my favorite time of year.

Last weekend we attended the Highroad Studio Tour where I photographed these apples outside an artist's studio. The air was just perfect, not too cool, not too hot. Some areas were so thick with apples on trees that the air literally hung with fragrance.

JUST CAN'T LET GO

This is a view of the house we rented. I want to go back NOW ! I want to stay there forever. I want to move my studio into the loft that looks out over a huge valley where I can track the rain as it moves out on the horizon.

Did I tell you how much I loved this place????????

THE BEST SUMMER .....EVER !

Oh yeah, I guess I already said that, but I just wanted to make sure everyone knew what a great summer this has been.

We rented a lovely home in the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado , just at the base of Crestone Peak. Our children met us there and brought the lovely Miss Iris who will be three this coming January.

Miss Iris (aka, Snoozey) spent all of her time on her new wheels. At night she slept in her Pink Disney Princess Tent.

We are worn out but oh it is such a good kind of ache. Being with our kids is the best vacation I could ever ask for.

MY BEST SUMMER EVER

Early in my life I wanted to garden. Each place I lived I'd plant and the very next year some circumstance would require a move and I'd never get to see my previous year's nurturing come to fruition. I was eventually so troubled by this pattern that I simply stopped planting. Well, actually a couple of years I did plant some pots for the porch and patio, but just never trusted the process. Finally, after 20 years, I made up my mind to turn the patch of dirt called my backyard into a place I would enjoy. For my birthday I requested my husband build me two raised beds, once they were in place the fever took hold and we both went to town planting. My husband is such a gardener, hard to believe after being married for 20 years I still didn't know this about him !!! Now I have a beautiful backyard complete with roses, sage, salvia, blanket flower, sweet williams, zinnias, mexican hat, chili peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, melons and much much more.

Keep your fingers crossed, I am not planning to move !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VALLES CALDERA

New Mexico is full of amazing things. Less than an hour from my front door is this beautiful place. From where I stand in this photo, I am in the middle of an extinct volcano cone...........we saw the most amazing blue birds and a huge herd of elk with fabulous antlers. A wildlife preserve that I am so grateful we have here.

It was cool and misty. A beautiful day.

Then back to the city and 90 degree temps...the evening cooled down, the rain came. We sat out on our patio discussing our future amid the most amazing lightening storm and a soft rain. The garden smelled wonderful. Can you tell??????????? I had a great weekend. Sure hope you did.

We have so many birds this summer. It is simply amazing.

Of course we purposely planted flowers that would attract hummingbirds. An boy did that ever work !

We've also had the joy of watching two Swifts nurture their five babies. I just love when mom and dad swoop in with food. Every little bird turns their head, opens their mouthes and cries "ME! ME! ME!"

For quite a few days we watched anxiously as the babies tried their wings. Finally off they went and we thought "well that's it". But they continued to return to the nest every evening, all crowding in and mom and dad ever watchful. Slowly, slowly they stayed away longer and longer until one day two new Swifts appeared and evicted the family from their little home. Two new swifts with three new eggs.

It's been a busy summer in our backyard !!!!!!

This all reminds me of the gentle ebb and flow of life. So much escapes our attention. In such a busy world one must make a point to stop, look, listen and enjoy the incredible miracle that this universe presents us with, every-single-moment.

Have a great day. Leave me a comment. I love to hear from you.

Dreaming, sitting here at my desk, dreaming.
Wishing I were somewhere far away,
the South of France maybe. A small village
with blooming roses, cool mornings and warm
afternoons.
Skinny dipping with my sweetie. Floating on my back,
feeling the cool water rush around my face,
sunlight dancing amongh the leaves illuminating
through my eyelids.
Dreaming, dreaming...................*sigh*

Is it 4 yet? Oh gosh, just now 11:45, I have a long
way to go before I can steal away from this desk........

SUMMER TIME !!!!!!!

And the livin' is easy...................our days have cooled off a bit, down to 90 from 97-98 degrees. My garden is breathing a huge sigh of relief. So am I. Last night we harvested some more of our "special" New Mexico chili peppers. My husband has become the expert chili roaster and my freezer is starting to show the signs of a bumper crop. The smell of roasting chili peppers in New Mexico is like no other experience. My plan is to harvest some of those big fat "Big Jims" this weekend to make chile rellenos.........oh yum.

Are there "local" foods only found in your part of the world? I'd love to know.

So, kick back, stay cool, sip an iced tea and savor the summer !!!!!!

OFF CENTER

Do
you
ever feel
like you
are
swiming upstream?

A LITTLE GET-AWAY

Had a lovely weekend in this casita located in Northern New Mexico. The picture is from last Spring. All the vegetation is up and beautiful right now.

THE NEW ADVENTURE

This chest of drawers was my husband's brain child. He has recently started building furniture and on his suggestion I have started painting images on each piece.

The image on this piece is meant to resemble Our Lady of Guadalupe, a popular image here in the American Southwest.

He has since made many pieces that I have painted. I'll post them from time to time and I would REALLY like your honest critique.

A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER

This is the Joseph's Coat climbing rose I planted in my yard earlier this summer. I've never grown roses before so I didn't expect too much, but my oh my this is just the most lovely bloom and I couldn't wait to share it.

My ex-mother-in-law always had a beautiful rose garden. On the occasions when she would gift me with a cutting I would be so thrilled. She'd have these huge rose bowls all over the house with the most fabulous displays of roses floating in them.

As a child most of my fond memories are of the flowers I found in the yards of my grandmothers and aunties. I can still remember seeing my very first tulip. Oh and my gosh, there were Sweet Williams that were a thick field and I walked through them, waist high. A beautiful Bleeding Heart in dappled shade, surrounded by lush green grass. Thick masses of marigolds.

Find some beauty today and commit it to your memory bank.

KICK SOME BUTT

These gals are armed and ready to kick some tail !!

Are those chapps made of fur or has it been a while since their last shave?

This was the very first postcard I ever made for my daughter-in-law and I still really love it.

So, my charge to you is get out there and live life like you plan to kick butt today. Make it good. Make it memorable. You only get "today" once.

LIFE IS SHORT - LIVE IT WELL

In loving tribute to Harriett C. Allen.

Her's was a life well lived.

May the Queen of Light greet you
at God's doorstep.

MEET THE WHOLE FLOCK !!

I've been on a bit of a run with chickens here lately. I just love these funny characters. I've got Dottie, Freckles, Johnson, Nestor, Punkie. These are matted and measure 5 x 7, acrylic on watercolor postcard stock. If you are interested in having this flock all for your very own, please drop me a message.

And as always, I'd love your comments !

"BROWNIE"

The other day I was visiting "Pioneer Woman's" blog and she had posted some great photos of cows. Being inspired, I made this little painting of "Brownie". Those are supposed to be clouds in the background. Since I'm not very good at clouds I thought, "what the heck", have some fun. So this is what I ended up with. I think Brownie actually looks kind of ticked off. HA !

DALLAS KICKS BACK

My son Dallas is such a sweeteheart. Last night I called to talk just as he was arriving home from work. He's an electrician and had been crawling around in a building all day and was covered with dust. My daughter-in-law, Cherise always makes the comment that Dallas works very hard. I believe it.

So this post today shows a little postcard I made for Cherise. Hopefully Dallas will get to kick back during this extended weekend and relax. Although with a 2 1/2 year old daughter jetting around the house, that idea can sometimes be just that "an idea".

Have a great weekend. Love those you love. Eat something fun. Laugh. Smile. Make the world go around.

MEET "BUSTER"

Isn't this just the cutest little dog? I'm not much of a dog person but now and then i come across one that sort of tickels me, and this little dog is one ! I have no idea what his name is but "Buster" seems to fit don't you think?

This is a postcard I made for my sweet daughter-in-law, Cherise. I hope you enjoy it too.

LOST IN SPACE

Sometimes I feel like a sheep lost in a huge universe. Other times I experience moments of bliss, communion with my friends and family. I'm told that everyone has these ups and downs in their lives.

Are you up or down, found or lost today?

NOW "THIS" IS AN ANGEL !!!!!!!!!

CAN YOU SEE HER HALO?????

Look very close, you can almost see her halo.

My grand daughter, Iris is 2 1/5.

We visited recently and got the fun of taking her on her first outing to the aquarium. Nothing in this world brings me as much joy as watching this child and her unending wonder of the world she lives in.

MEET FOR COFFEE

Driving down the road I see birds all lined up sitting on the wire. My husband and I frequently laugh, imagining that they are all gathered for the "coffee club". What fun. What about you? What do you think they are up to??????

SWEET SWEET SOPHIE

On Friday, April 13th, Sophie died.

We move through our days in a fog. We cry a lot. This sweet little cat that we rescued in the wilds of 20 degree below zero weather and 10 feet of snow has been our angel for nearly 16 years. My heart is simply bursting with grief.

Words are hard to come by right now. I don't want to let her go. I don't want her to suffer. I want to live on in the vacuum of kittie happiness with my Sophie. She has been a joy. Sweet, sweet Sophie.

ANOTHER LOVE DOVE

Last week I took my first ever painting class. The instructor is a lovely woman who introduced me to what she calls a "rake brush". I've never heard of that and so off to the store I went and only found "filberts" that looked like the rake. They were on sale so I thought "what the heck, buy some brushes" ! I really enjoyed trying out the brush on this postcard. A sweet blue dove, sent from heaven !

HAVING FUN ~ WISH YOU WERE HERE

Stop by ! Visit ! Sit a while out on my patio and sip on a nice glass of wine. When you have gone, I'll miss you.

She never really showed up in my thoughts much. Growing up as a Catholic I knew of her. Later in life I abandoned her all together, out searching the universe for the greater meaning in life. Now in my menopausal years I return to her, realizing the power of the mother's love, the constancy of her devotion. I have returned home....to a greater sense of spirit and confidence. Life has been won with joy and sorrow, peace and pain, all the necessary components for a time well lived.

Today I wish love upon you.

Funny, comical, expressive. This is how I see red winged black birds.

"Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie. " I didn't learn that poem until I was a senior in high school. I worked as a nurses aid in a retirement home. One of my duties was to get the residents into bed each evening. One lady who was so sweet, would sing this to me every night. Of course, eventually I learned it and we sang together. I was happy to give her that little bit of love. I like to think her spirit is soring with the red winged black birds. Free and easy.

MY LOVIE DOVIE

This sweet, soft dove is fluttering about your heart and soul, blessing you each day with tender touches, soft reassurance that all is well and no matter what the decision, the universe will catch you.

LAID BACK LOVE

This heart I painted is reclining.

I don't really know why. I guess sometimes love can be laid back.........hippie style.

Not much to add today.

THE EXPLORATION

All of life is an exploration.

I tried carving stamps out of erasers. The leaf and eye are the result of that.

My heart explodes with joy when I create something new. A piece of art. A chocolate torte. Gardening.

For some reason I must have a bit of Mondrion in my blood. Just love those offset squares. There is something in the design that comforts me. What do you think?

YOU ARE HERE

This is the postcard I painted and sent a friend who was working as a chef on an island for a short time last summer.

Aside from that...............it begs the question - where are you? Where in the world are you. Where is your heart? Where is your soul? Where are you, emotionally? Are you an island? Do your emotions send out ripples like the waves around this island? At your center, is there a red hot, glowing star, surrounded by growth and then tranquility?

I HATE MY BRA

I have a bra on today that causes me to feel like I am in a sandpaper straight jacket ! Who make these things anyway!

My friend Colleen wrote a great piece about French Lingerie. To read her words makes me wonder what the heck those French women know about their undies that I don't. I need a lesson !!

Truly, I want to look all sassy in my red bra. I want my husband so sigh with disbelief when he sees me revealing such a wonder. Truthfully he'll never see it because I'll probably be in the office ladies room ripping it off before I even leave my job today!

I did have fun creating this little piece of art though. Might as well get SOME enjoyment out of that red bra.