Another post-surgery update

Sarah again. Went to visit my mother at the hospital last night. She was really happy to hear all of your comments and well wishes. Despite feeling a bit nauseous, she's doing really well after the surgery and, unless there are any issues that I haven't heard about, she should be coming home later today. If we're lucky, the next update will come from her!

Post-surgery update

Sarah here. I'm not very much in the loop, but according to my sources everything is going good. The surgery went fine and my mother is now chilling out at the hospital. Possibly more later.

A day at the Zoo

 









I headed to the Zoo yesterday to the so the drawing lab exercise that is done there. First I tried drawing the lions but they kept getting up and moving on me.











Then I tried the zebra's which are so fun but I had forgotten to take an eraser and my zebras look mutated. They have a new colt who was so cute but  he was hard to get a picture of since he was always behind  his mom.











Then there was this great tortoise that walked this long way right to me. Then it just stared at me for awhile, it was really cool.















My best drawing was of the camel, as camels don't move very much.  He was kind of cute in his own way. It was a fun day but next time I will go when its cooler.

Prayer Flags

I hung up the flags I received so far. I think they really look fantastic.

Here is another look at them. I am expecting some more and I will add another string of them then. Pretty soon my yard will be full of art.













I attached Olivia's flag over here with the glitter sister flags from last year.  I love the Goddess in the labyrinth that she drew.













Here is a close up of Olivia's flag, she wrote a beautiful letter that really is Art to me.

Sarah will post something tomorrow after my surgery.  The good news is they are going to do it laparascopicly so that should be easier on me.

Wishcasting Wednesday -How do you wish to nourish your self

For today's Wishcasting Jamie asks us the simple question,  How do wish to nourish yourself. Since I go in for surgery on Friday I wish to nourish the self by totally healing  my body and my mind and spirit too.  Having a hysterectomy is something that many women go through and I seem to get that the process entails so much more than just the the physical surgery part.

I have done my best to prepare for lots of downtime and soul searching and releasing that will happen in the next few months.  I am embracing that process in the only way I know how but am open to new thoughts and ideas that I know will come.

I choose this wish today to foster the idea that nourishing the self is not something we do when something goes wrong but becomes part of our everday existence like brushing our teeth. I wish to make new choices that honor me as a woman as a spiritual being, that serve me and those around me. I wish for more experiences of bliss.

You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog and then add it to others here

Paint and Pass Continues

I thought I had better get the latest paint and pass done and out of the door before my surgery. I have had it for several weeks just couldn't decide what to do on it. I added the water, figured the bird flew over water to land. Its on its way to Texas now.

I made this little bag to hold my kindle today.  I am so lucky that I know how to sew so I can make things like this.  Thanks to my mom who taught me to sew as a child.














The only art I have to share is a work in progress.  This was an old canvas that I didn't like.  I slathered on molding paste and collaged some papers, added more paint papers and stamping.  I saw the figure on the right and then added a friend on the right. I hope to work on this some more today so stay tuned for further developments.

Great weekend

I had a great weekend, on Friday we watched these guys practice. Yep the Blue Angels were in town. We actually saw the show from our driveway on Saturday. They flew over our house multiple times. It was pretty cool.

On Saturday morning Dave and I went kayaking at a local gravel pond which is like kayaking on a lake and I just loved it. We had the place to ourselves, just some shore birds and the two of us.  It was really present.    That evening I had a bonfire and last night I went drumming. with a group of women.  Lots of fun activities to round out the week.

My lovely sister Peggy sent me a convalescing package full of goodies. You can see them all on her blog Feminine Inspiration She gives all the details and what everything is for so I will just let her tell the story.

Today I will be anxiously awaiting for UPS to show up and deliver the gift from my hubby, Its something to entertain me while I recover from surgery. Oh now what could that be. Any guesses?

























Yes its a kindle and I think its a pretty nice gift. I am looking forward to trying it out.

Flags, Collage and More Goodies

I knew when I posted those flags I would get another the same day so I will post here as I get them.

This one came from Florida from my friend Judie.  I really love sunflowers so this was perfect. Thanks Judie














Awhile ago I saw a flag done in the Zentangle style so I thought I would make one for myself.  The prayer I just made up as I was writing and I think its fun. I used a faber-casteel brush pen to make it.










My friend Sophie sent me this postcard that I think is pretty awesome.  She also sent an envelope full of collage bits that will be fun to use.














Included in her package was this small journal.  It is full of all sorts of different papers. I just love the image on the front. Thanks Sophie.














When Paula sent her flag she also sent this lovely post card.  It definitely speaks serenity to me. I just love this card.

I have never showed this so I thought I would throw it in the mix. Mystele had sent me this a thank you and it now adorns my studio wall.  I just love it.











Here is the front of the suitcase I had been working on. I used several ocean inspired papers.  I think the big area to the right could have an image or something but I will do that at another time.










and here is the back of it, At some later date I may add some images on this side too.  It was fun to do but I really had a glue issue.  I started using spray adhesive which worked only part of the time and then used YES glue and then glossy accents for some trouble spots.  In some areas I had thicker paper so it was hard to use on the curves. I learned a lot doing this I know if I do another suitcase it will be so much easier. I do like the soft calming look of this one. I plan to use it to haul art supplies when I go to a friends house or to any future retreats.

Drawing Lab- Cats

Some of you may have heard all the talk about this book, or seen it on other blogs.  You can also check out some fun stuff on Carla's blog

Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun (Lab Series)

In the first lab you are supposed to draw 30 cats sitting in bed.  You can do it on a pillow or use your non-dominant hand. Its a great exercise because none of these are so called perfect cats.   Here are some of my funny cats.  Then we are to choose one we like and paint it.  The only one I liked was in the upper right corner.

So here is my little blue cat, rendered in watercolor.  He was actually sort of fun to do. I like painting him better than drawing all those cats. I think working with this book will really help conquer those art fears of not being right perfect or correct.  I have been wanting to try some whimsical stuff so here is my chance. Maybe this little blue cat now needs a series of adventures.

The Blue Angels are in town and they have been practicing over my head or roof I should say.  Maybe that is why the cat is blue.  Those blue planes are quite exciting to see so close. Flynn doesn't like them very much though, he keeps chasing them all over the yard.  Dogs are funny sometimes, he will chase an airplane but he is afraid of the vacuum cleaner.

Prayer Flags

 





I worked on this page last night and decided to try a technique I saw Mystele use. This figure started out as a mannequin stamp and I just painted on the rest of the body. Then I tried to make it into something which is where my struggle began. It seems that even though I turned the page into a discourse on loneliness I still feel that it needs something else. I think the figure is too small for the page without something else going on. Sometimes page don't go the way you had planned but that is Art Journaling for you. At thesee moments I think you have to let them go and just move on to the next page.

Prayer Flags

I have gotten several flags in the mail from blogger friends and they are all wonderful.  This one is from Lee.














This one from Janet shows a heart connecting two blogging friends.












I love the angel on this one and the wonderful words.  Its from Paula










This one is from Lisa I like to think I will emerge in a new way after this.















This one is from my friend
Kelley  I really love the prayer she wrote.

These are all fantastic, thank you ladies. I am expecting a few more and when they are all strung and hanging I will take another picture.

I started work on my mailbox, painted on the address and a Raven and then realized where the flag sits might be a  problem and it was.  It completely covered the address  So back to spray painting over the address, this is the second time I have had to do that.  Its going to take several coats before I can begin again.  Rats, I hate when that happens.

Finding the Sweet Spot

Yesterday Sarah and I took a trip to Logan, Utah to visit the Hobby Lobby.  We do not have one here.  They sell Copic Markers in open stock and that is what she uses in her art.  I did manage to come home with a couple things too. The new crow stamp helped me to finish this page. 

My friend Kim the Queen of Arts is always talking about "the sweet spot" in her journal pages and I have just never seen that in mine till now.  I think this page has several sweet spots.   I think the crow area is one and the face too.  It really is fun looking for them.

Would you believe there is no paint on this page?  Color was applied using soft pastels.  Then I added a working fixative before layering on stamps and gel pens. I used the Kindness stamp becaue I was thinking about how kind all my blogging friends are. I have recieved some beautiful flags and gifts to help me during this time. You ladies are just wonderful.


.







I came home with some new embossing folders to use in my cuttlebug machine.  So of course I had to play with them right away.

This is a sample with regular card stock. You can see how cool this embossing looks.











This sample is using card stock with a white core. You may not be able to see it in the picture but some of the white is showing through.











So then I sanded the paper to reveal just a little bit more.  Depending on the color of paper I think this could be a great affect to age the paper.















This darker blue sample was made on white paper and I put stamping ink inside the embossing folder and then put it through the cuttlebug. I love the look.  I used a Ranger Adirondak stamp pad in denim. I think next time I may try using more than one color of ink.













Just thought I would show you my wonderful new lawn chair. We bought it several months ago when we were in Missoula and I have just started using it. The whole bottom is mesh so its really cool in the heat. It has a drink holder and tray on the side and an attached bottle opener and can see it has a built in pillow. It is made by Kelty a company that makes backpacking gear. I really can relax in this chair.

Gabrielle has left us

We found out that Gabrielle my favorite she died today.  Yes she was old but it is still hard to deal with.  She is the only sheep that I bought by myself.  She turned out to be my favorite of all my sheep and she was Dave's too.  I didn't want her body just to go to the dump so we dug a grave in the pasture and buried her there. It was hard work, the three of us took turns and then we said our goodbye's.

We had been treating her extra special so she would stay alive.  Just yesterday I brought her a branch from a willow tree that had broken off.  Sheep love to eat willow leaves.  That is the last time I saw her alive and she seemed so happy and content.  I am glad that she died naturally and that she has gone on to greener pastures but I sure am going to miss her. I think this week I am going to have to spin some of her fleece.  She had the softest wool and the sweetest disposition. Goodbye Gabrielle I am going to miss you.

Lark Rise to Candleford

On Friday I went and got half of my hair chopped off.  Oh it feels so much lighter. What do you think?

I have been working on the Creative Awakening Milestone pass port.  First you make the little booklet out of cardstock and then decorate the first few pages with maps. here is the Visa application from the book that I cut down so it would fit. It is basically a contract sytating you will work on the books exercises.













Then I worked on the next pages with My Rockstar photo and then a childhood one.  I have hardly any photos from my childhood.  In this one I have tried on new school clothes. I think I might be 14 or 15 here.

Not much else to report with the high temps we have been having my energy seems to be lacking.  I've been knitting and watching all my recorded episodes of Lark Rise to Candleford.  I think I may be in love with Robert Timmons or maybe its Brendan Coyle the actor who plays him or probably a combination of the two.  He is such a nice man and I  really like the actress who plays Emma too. It funny how we can be drawn into characters lives and loves on a TV show. But then it is based on an autobiographical novel.  I think the first two seasons are on DVD now. Where I live its on Wednesday nights on PBS.  If you like a good story or period dramas you will love it. You can not help but like the characters and find yourself rooting for them in all their trials.

Art Journal Inspiration

I saw this on Kelley's blog and its worth passing around.  Its a collection of journal pages wow, here is the  link

Sarah's story is online

Remember when Sarah won that award for the story she wrote.  Well a few of you expressed an interest in reading it.  It is now available online. You can read it here

GPP Street Team #42 Strip Ease

This months GPP Street team challenge is all about ripping paper. The lovely Michele Ward is always challenging us to do something fun and this month is no exception.  I am a scissors kind of gal so this is a good challenge for me. Its not that I have not ripped paper for pages before, I have but its just not my most favorite thing to do. So I hope to let it loose this month and fall in love with this idea

I ripped papers and then inked the edges with those little cat eye pads. I journaled on some of the strips. Then I layered an image on top and scattered some more journaling on the page.

This was fun so I decided to do more pages.

















First I glued down some strips, that include wallpaper, old music and old book pages.

Then I added gesso and then a couple layers of  paint and some stamping.

















and then an image, and I noticed I had gotten ink all over my hands and smeared it on the page, I got most of it off but it is still pretty visible. I may have to journal on that spot or paint over it.

















 The next page I did the same thing, adding strips of paper and then gesso.

















Here I added stamping and then painted over it with several shades of red paint trying to emphasize the strips and then more stamping.

















Next I cut the poppies out of that paper I bought recently and attached them with gel medium.

















I outlined the flowers with charcoal pencil and blended with a tortillion.  Then I added an image but forgot to take a picture, ooops, well I painted the dress and then added it to the piece. I also added charcoal to the outline of the figure.  I really liked the way this turned out.

To see what other Street Team members are doing go here