Beading with Pearls

I was thrilled to participate in this publication and it should be available in book stores soon. If you like pearls there are a variety of projects from beginner to advanced.

We have been having crazy weather this week...it actually snowed last night and I think we broke the records here in Washington for the latest snow fall. Last Saturday we were at 80 degrees and then the following Sunday we dropped down to low 40's. So from sandals to boots in one day. I am hoping our typical spring weather will return soon. I'll share some pictures later of our trip to the tulip festival...rain mixed with snow made for a short day, but I did manage to get some lovely pictures.

Wishing you all sunshine!

ArtFest

I often wonder to myself why is ArtFest so special, and one of the consistent feelings is connection. Connecting with people on different levels...as an artist, a friend, a mom, a person. People who can all see the beauty in an old thingamajig. No judging...just a few days immersed in art and fun.

Pictures from the journaling party at the beach cabin. Just a peak outside this window shows the beauty we are surrounded by during the event. Lots of fun and laughter and a new friend Heather who was drawing the most amazing picture in her journal.



A day spent with my friend Renee in Nina's class Gatherings. Oh...she can be so productive even when we are chatting and laughing. Hopefully she will post some pictures of her fabulous project. Nina's class sample was an amazing visual feast for the eyes. The texture and poetry of her work is breathtaking. If you ever get a chance to take a class with Nina, you won't be disappointed.



Candice, Keecia, Nina, and Julie
Do you see our big smiles? Yes, a class that was full to the brim with inspiration. I met these wonderful women at "ArtNest". Such talented women who are kind and open.

I can't wait to finish this journal I created in Nina's class. I opted to make a journal instead of a portfolio and need to find some vintage chocolate brown velevet ribbon to finish this up.





This sweet doll is from the always lovely Katie Kendrick. I just love how Katie's faces have such feeling. She is sitting on my writing desk.



And this lovely strawberry was a gift from my talented friend Renee. Not only is she a great traveling companion, but she makes wonderful patterns and is a very talented artist.



How I wish I could squeeze more hours in the day at ArtFest. So many people who I only got to briefly say hello as we rush about...ah but there is next year and blogland to keep in touch!

The view from the ferry as I head home. It looks a little gray, but the sun was shinning and my mind just full of memories I will cherish.

I love mail and hand written letters and typically my mailbox contains more junk mail than one should receive, but last week I received this lovely box in the mail from a sweet friend. Aren't the colors wonderful?

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
- Anais Nin

I am off to clean my closet...sounds exciting I know, but I have been trying to do this for a year. I typically start out with gusto and then after about an hour am completely bored, but today I am gonna make a dent. Wish me luck!

Seems like yesterday, but it was 16 years ago. We were married on an unusually sunny day in Seattle at St. James Cathedral. A few weeks prior to the wedding there was a fire in the church and there were some moments of worry, but the smoke damage was minor and they allowed the scheduled weddings to continue. So things went as they should and all that really mattered was that we were married. I married a keeper.

Here is a little poem I found in an antique book...

Song
by Louise Bogan

Love me because I am lost;
Love me that I am undone.
This is brave, - no man has wished it,
not one.

Be strong to look on my heart
As others look on my face.
Love me - I tell you....

I am finally feeling better...I came down with the crud that was going around and have been sick for over a week. It really made me appreciate feeling healthy. So hopefully I am done for the year.

Mondays and Fridays are my studio days, but lately I have not managed to get much done. A little studio cleaning, a little organizing, a little supply gathering...but not actually getting work done. I did order new moo cards and some supplies for ArtFest so those things are crossed off my "to do" list.

The picture here are my little finds today. Instead of working in the studio I decided to go for some visual stimulation at an antique mall in Snohomish. I was looking in a case at a wire knit purse much bigger than the one pictured and thinking...how perfect the chain would be to hang earrings, but then I saw this little doll (from head to toe she is about two inches). Isn't she cute? Then I saw this little wire knit coin purse that would be great too and a little more up my price range. Oh and the little silver bracelet with Paris scenes just around the corner. It is amazing how much stuff they can pack into those glass cases.

Yep...not much done, but a few good finds so all in all not a bad day.

Tip of the day...


Nesters and friends here is an alternative to a drill for punching holes...
A great pair of punch pliers. They can be used on sheet metal to punch a neat little hole, but recently I tested them on a vintage shoe clip. The rhinestone was easily removed by using an awl on the back side and then punched a hole where the rhinestone was...easy. I got these from Lisa Niven Kelly since I like to support small businesses, but you can get them at Rio too. You could also look at this screw down hole punch. I am a tool girl...so I am always on the look out for tools that can go with me.

I will be teaching at the Portland Art & Soul Retreat October 5th and 6th. Registration opens on 3/11, and they offer a number of wonderful classes. Let me know if you are going to attend...I would love to see you.

Sorry to blog and dash, but the sun is out today and it feels like spring.

The Art Nest Retreat


It was wonderful...I had a great time, but am still trying to catch up on my sleep. Here are a few quick photos and I'll post more later.

Anahata's class was really fun. I decided to work in my journal instead of a large canvas. There was only so much room in my luggage. My project was a little different than the rest of the class since I was working smaller and decided not to incorporate a face as the focus, but I was really pleased with my page and incorporated many techniques. This picture was taking before I added some more smaller details, but it basically looks the same.

Happy Valentine's Day


This little treasure is by Lisa Kaus. I found it in a little gallery here in Washington. The picture does not do it justice, but if I waited to get a better shot I might not get it posted at all.
Please excuse my absence. I have been trying to get back into the exercise routine and this is causing my whole schedule to be off. I also tend to hibernate in the winter, but the days are getting longer and hopefully I will be a better blogger.

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. ” Henry Ford

Last but certainly not least...my sweet petunia lost her two front teeth and every time she smiles it just makes me smile. I hope it makes you smile too!

I am back from my blogging hiatus and I hope you all had a wonderful and artful holiday!

I have been working on making and finishing several journals. The first two pictures are the cover and back of a journal created using the "Teesha" method with Fabriano Paper. The second set of 3 pictures are collages on a pre-made journal to use for general notes at the Art Nest coming up in February. I also finished sewing some signatures in the fabric journal I had started back in October. Yep...I am trying to finish some of my projects that have been sitting around. Taking little steps in the direction I want to go...cleaning out closets and the studio. I hope all those little projects add up to one organized studio, house and closets.















I also had the pleasure of meeting up with the new Seattle Art group. We had sooo much fun working on projects and chatting. What a wonderful group of artists. It was fun to see what everyone was working on and hear about things going on in the area. The lovely lady behind the painting is Tara Ross.


“I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.” Helen Keller

Christmas Miracles

Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love getting Christmas cards and seeing pictures of friends, their pets and children. I love reading the letters, making cookies, wrapping presents and finding the perfect gift. Six years ago tomorrow I received my Christmas miracle.

Six years ago the joy of Christmas changed for me and each year since I meet December with joy and tears. Not tears of sorrow, but tears of pure emotion. I'll be sitting in my car and hear a song about Christmas wishes, joy or sadness and just tear up.

Six years ago I was six months pregnant and woke up with my water breaking. Jeff grabbed Lindsey (5 years at the time) and we rushed to the hospital. I knew something was very wrong. I was hooked up to an IV, and the doctor gave us a choice of two hospitals because if I were to deliver now or in the near future I had to be at a hospital with a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I was put into an ambulance by myself and rushed to the other hospital. Luckily there was no traffic, but the experience to this day still seems unreal.

I was not sick and the baby was fine once they stopped the contractions. There was no explanation for the early rupture and I was told I could be on bed rest for the next 3 months. I was committed to do whatever it took to get this baby here safely. The Neonatologist gave us grim details about premature births...like a baby born at 25 weeks had a 50% chance of survival and future issues were inevitable. Each week that I made it on bed rest increased the chances of survival. So after 6 days (December 19, 2001) things were looking good and they said I could get up to use the restroom and take a shower. Shortly after my shower I went into labor and the scene was like ER...All I remember was my cart being pushed by nurses and doctors running through the hallway and arriving in a white room with bright lights and about 12 masked people in white surgical gear. It was very strange and I felt like I wasn’t even really there...more like a bad dream. I was terrified and I didn’t start to cry until I saw one tear roll down my husband’s cheek. Jeff is not a “crier” so I knew this was bad. She was delivered in minutes and taken by the doctors to get her situated. I kept asking Jeff, “did I really just have our baby?” I remember they were getting ready to take her out of the room and all I could do was ask to see her...”Can I please see my baby?”

She looked larger than I expected but was very tiny. I don’t think you are ever really sure what a 1.5 pound baby would look like, but other than her size she looked amazing. She was in an incubator and on a ventilator to help her breath as her only major issue was the development of her lungs. They tried to prepare of for the next 3 months. It would be an emotional roller coaster. There would be good and bad days. There were scary terms for typical preemies like cranial hemorrhaging, deafness, blindness, infections, NEC (a condition that happens and is fatal). I had to pump like I had a baby and was put on a schedule to pump every 4 hours. I would have to set the alarm and wake in the middle of the night to pump. This became my job. I would wake in the morning and get Lindsey ready and then head to the hospital to sit by her incubators and read books on preemies. I would head home before rush hour so we could have dinner as a family and then put Lindsey to bed and then Jeff would go to the hospital for a couple hours in the evening. We tried to keep Lindsey’s life normal and for the most part she didn’t realize anything was wrong. This was our life for months and we never really knew if she would come home.

On Christmas Eve we got the best gift of all that year...we got to hold her. I went to church that night and remembered seeing all those moms with babies and just realizing what a gift each child is...I do remember sobbing in bed after church. It was the worst feeling have a precious little one in a hospital. I remember praying harder than I have ever prayed. I remember the kindness of strangers who gave encouraging words at the hospital, I remember the cleaning lady that sat with me and said a prayer for my little girl. I remember the college aged mother across the way that had a preemie that was out of the incubator and going home that gave me a wonderful card of encouragement when she left. I remember the other babies that weren’t so lucky. I remember the nurses who cared for her, the babies that had no parents sitting at their side. And each time around this year all those memories are fresh like yesterday.

On the day we finally got to bring her home in March I cried as we were carrying her to our car to bring her home...tears of happiness, tears of fear, tears of joy...just tears but mostly tears of relief. The next few years were still uncertain when we were leaving the hospital, but tomorrow My Sweet Petunia will be 6 years old. We were the lucky ones! Lauren survived without any typical preemie problems a MIRACLE.

Not only did I get a wonderful baby girl, but I gained perspective. I was a Type A, detail oriented, perfectionist...but after that day in December I gained perspective on what I value in my life.

May this holiday season bring you peace, joy and perspective.

Happy Holidays!

Here is a photo of the Joli Paquet kit I purchased and finished the other night. I did swap out the picture included in the kit for one of me when I was little in my faux fur coat and hat. I wasn't able to go to Silver Bella, but the gals that started this blog created kits that kept us in the spirit. I purchased another darling kit and am hoping I finish before the holidays so it doesn't end up in my closet of unfished projects. It was late and I forgot to put on my tree topper, but once the top was on there was nothing to be done.

Here are some photos of a little trade/exchange I have been working on for a sweet friend. I first started to make this necklace,

but then decided she was more of a blue girl and then made this little necklace with one of the vintage bird cages I have in my collection. It can be difficult to just decide on one when I am typically working on several pieces at once.

I also included a little pair of these earrings...and collaged this little wood box from Michaels to stash all the little goodies. See I have been working a little.







And last but not least here is a little fairy house I stumbled upon in our yard the other day. The wind has blown the little leaf roof off, but it was oh so sweet. You see my girls still believe in them. Oh I just love this age!

Where there is a will there is a way!

Last Wednesday I had the snow tires put on the car fearing the weatherman would be right about snow for the weekend, but I tell you "hell or high water" I was going to my journal class with THE Judy Wise. Little did I know that snow would not be the problem, but rain...It was wet wet wet. I decided to leave for home after class and sleep in my own bed instead of staying in a hotel. Boy was I glad I left because the following morning roads home were closed.

The class was marvelous. We smeared paint, carved stamps and just had fun. One of my favorite pages came after we each carved our stamps and then passed them around.



You can see a small video from class...there was a lot of laughter.

I got to spend some time with darling Katie, who I think is a goddess of mixed media. So sweet and humble...one of my favorite moments during the day was when we all were starting to carve our stamps and Katie said..."I don't know what to carve!". Well of course I have to pipe in..."oh let me see if I was Katie Kendrick I would do one of my fabulous faces!" and her carving was of course amazing.

Diane who hosts retreats in her home studio is obviously a kind soul. She puts you at ease the moment you meet her. I can't wait to go back for another retreat.

Can you see my happy dance?

I will spare you the picture. This weekend I get to take a journaling class with Judy Wise at Innerstandings in Portland. I am very excited to spend the day journaling and learning some techniques from Judy. My daughter has a basketball game on Saturday...so I will be driving up very early on Sunday morning to attend.

I have a few half started journals, but I never can seem to commit fully to the process. Perhaps this class will be the start of a new phase. I am not sure if it is the blank page or just that my thoughts always seem to be spinning around so fast in my mind that I can't really seem to get them down. Kind of like my blog...I have all these thoughts about what I would like to say, but I just don't always get them down in the few minutes I have.

So I am going to give it a go this weekend. I know it will be a fun class and a happy distraction from my daunting "to do" list.

Yes...I have been working on the blog design! Still more work to do, but I need to get back to cleaning my studio and finishing some new jewelry pieces.

I read a great quote issued from the Queen of Rainbow Fairyland, "Don't look for the magic, the magic will find you!" It seems of late that the magic has found me in my studio these last few days. I was so inspired by the studio cleaning that Nina completed that I found myself yearning for a bright and shiny studio too. So I have begun the process of cleaning.

I hope the magic will find you too!

Your fairy is called Bramble Iceglitter

She is a bone chilling bringer of justice for the vulnerable.

She lives in leafy dells and bluebell glades.

She is only seen in the light of a shooting star.

She wears bluebell-blue dresses. She has icy blue butterfly wings.

Get your free fairy name here!

A little of this and a little of that....



This is my favorite coat, and I think it now officially 3 years ago that I fell in love with it...love at first site. What I really love about this coat is that I can put just about anything on and still look like I made an effort.




This little nest is from the sweet Allegra who wove those wires to create such a beautifully dimensional object. She also sent a new pair of cutters and I'll be giving them a test spin soon. They are guaranteed for life and can be sent back to the company for sharpening...so if you are a jewelry gal...these might be the ticket. I'll report back more on these later.



If you have been wondering where I have been lately I can only say that we have been very busy with Harvest parties, Halloween parties, soccer playoffs, a very wet trip to Portland for regional Junior Olympics etc....and from now until the holidays I will be running around like most of you shopping, making cookies, drinking coffee and generally trying not to let the holidays pass too quickly.




When all else fails I revert back to these words that were clearly posted at my daughter's preschool:

1. Take deep breaths
2. Count to 10 slowly
3. Say to yourself "calm down"

Ok...feeling a little better!

Wishing you and yours a very very Happy Thanksgiving!

ArtFiberFest

Here is the lovely view from my dorm room. I have stayed in this dorm at ArtFest, but never been over to this side during the daytime to get the view. The weather was all over the map...raining, windy, and sunny. We were so lucky with the timing of the weather. We stayed pretty dry going to and from classes. I had a wonderful time and made new friends and connected with old ones.


Here is Deb Lewis a wonderful soul and her spirit is radiant like her smile. And yes Shari we stayed up till midnight a few nights chatting in the lounge...wish you could have been there too. Maybe next year?

Here are Tammy and Linda sewing up a storm. Tammy's laugh just makes me smile...both gals where delightful.



One of my favorite stores in Port Townsend is Edge to Edge. A delightful store with vinatage trims, fabrics, and more...I found them about three years ago in their previous location and have made trips to Port Townsend to just get some fabric.




My classes were all wonderful...needle felting with Keely, Paper Quilts and SewFab Journal with Pam Garrsion. People were fun, classes were great, and it was just fabulous. ArtFiberFest is smaller than ArtFest and I just love the event!