Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Journal Page Background Progress (BlogAlong 14/30)

Right now I'm sitting in our hotel room, sipping weak hotel coffee. The concert last night was wonderful, the weather perfect, the people very happy and friendly. Quite a few folks danced throughout the concert but by the encore, most people were up and moving with the music.

We'll be headed to the other side of Portland in a while and hitch a ride on MAX and do some exploring while my car is getting its routine maintenance. I'd love to swing by a Michaels store for art supplies (not that I need any, but how can I resist?) though it's not something many husbands enjoy doing. I don't even know if it's near the MAX route, but if it is...

I pre-posted this progress photo of my journal page yesterday, knowing I'd be out of town. I've been having fun adding more to the background (a Life Book 2013 lesson). I'm only a couple weeks behind (had to sew that doll), but when I have a moment I will finally add the face. I'm a little nervous about it, but there's no holding back! It's only paper and paint, after all.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Musical Getaway! (BlogAlong 13/30)

Going to work this morning for a day of meetings at work (ok, I'm escaping a little early), then we're heading to the Edgefield to see Steely Dan at an outdoor concert. I'm excited to see all the artwork throughout the buildings and grounds. Better bring a hat, cuz it's supposed to be in the upper 80s in Portland today!

 

Historic Edgefield, built in 1911 as the county poor farm, is a destination resort in the Pacific Northwest that blends Oregon's natural beauty with McMenamins' signature whimsy: original buildings carefully restored with cozy interiors, gardens grown using organic methods, great food and drink, live entertainment and more.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Kids and Art (BlogAlong 12/30)

Some of my fondest memories are those of art projects with my grandmothers. And so I try to do that with my own grandchildren. This day was a simple coloring session, taking advantage of the perfectly comfortable weather. See how focused they both are?
What shall our next art project be? I have quite a few books that I've accumulated over the years with all sorts of kids crafts - just need to find some projects appropriate for a 5 and 3 year old.

Earlier this summer I had my grandson try out my gelli plate, fluid arylics and brayer. He made some beautiful art. He's tried weaving and hand sewing. They've both painted birdhouses. So much to do!

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Cecelia doll - FINISHED! (BlogAlong 11/30)

I've finally finished a big project on my to-do list. There are so many other tasks on this list, but this is one that needed to be done. It's really quite amazing that such a simple doll requires so many hours of work.
Cecelia is 13 inches tall. She's made of caramel doe suede fabric. Her face is needle sculpted. Her hair is loose wool locks, glued and felted into place. Her clothing is removable.
 
And now I need to go sort laundry and get it started so I can return to the studio to play!

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Catch-up Day (BlogAlong day 10/30)

Glory Be, I have a weekend off with no other responsibilities (other than housework, laundry, bills). I'm a compulsive list maker, and one thing that's been on my to-do list for way too long is this commissioned doll. As much as I want to finish my current art journal page, this project is a priority. 
I started sewing about 9 this morning (it's 7 p.m. now), and I'm done for the day. I still need to finish some details on her dress, and of course the dolls face, ears, and hair. And when she is done, I will savor the act of crossing her off my list.
 
I hope to finish her completely tomorrow morning, and then move on to that journal page. Feeling satisfied today.


Friday, August 9, 2013

Exploring (BlogAlong 9/30)

After spending Wednesday morning in a burn class, my friend Julie and grandson Ivan hiked the area near Fort Clatsop. We started at Netul Landing, and rather than hike the one-way 6 mile "Fort to Sea" trail, we explored a loop of off-shoot trails. The weather was perfect.

Ivan finally got this froggy to jump after jostling the skunk cabbage leaf with a stick.
 
Ivan posing by an interesting tree.
 
A view from the trail
 
Ivan and Julie on South Slough Bridge.
 
Julie gifted Ivan with a couple books about the animals and insects in our area. Very cool!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Insomnia (BlogAlong day 8/30)

I've started my Week 31 journal page, taught by Jeanette Maisy House. I have a couple layers here (including those recently purchased lovely purples, blue and pink paints), but thought it was a bit too dark so I added a little gesso with a brayer. I still have another couple layers to try before adding the face. I wish I had some fancy napkins or tissue paper to collage onto the surface. 
 
Jeanette says, "the page in this lesson is about creating a reminder to ourselves of the importance of gifting quiet time and space into our busy lives; time and space where we can sit and reconnect with our deepest thoughts, and take heed of the messages we receive."
 
I find it way too easy to get caught up in the tasks and responsibilities of each day - although I think I'm getting better at setting aside some time for myself. Like right now. I've been awake since 3 a.m., so I thought why not get up and do something? Probably not my most productive time of day, though. I hate insomnia.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Hometown Love (BlogAlong day 7/30)

Driving home from getting groceries yesterday, I had to stop and pull over about a quarter mile from home. Sure, I was in a rush to get the ice cream home before it melted, but I was compelled to stop for a moment and enjoy this little slice of Heaven.
Sometimes it's hard to find the beauty in things, other times it slams you upside the head. This day I  thankful for the reminder to stop and take a moment to appreciate what I have.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

The Color Purple (BlogAlong day 6/30)

I'm getting ready to start my Life Book 2013 Week 31 lesson. The teacher suggests shades of purple and blue - though in reality, any color scheme could be chosen. And can you believe that the huge dresser drawer (and overflow basket) of acrylic paint in my studio contain just about every color under the sun EXCEPT purple?

Now, I realize I could mix blues and reds to create purple, but I chose not to go that route. So after a particularly heinous shift in the ER, I decided to perform my own personal Critical Stress Debriefing with a little therapeutic shopping. These are my new paints (I decided to throw in a couple blues and a pink, too). Pay no attention to the brush that was obviously left in a jar of rinse water way too long -
a bad habit of mine...
 
I had some fun reading about the color purple this morning.
From the website http://deeptrancenow.com/colortherapy.htm I read about the healing and mystical properties of this color. It reminded me of Nursing School and the course on color/crystal therapy and therapeutic touch (one of the instructors was into the woo woo stuff). I liked her. She gave me a piece of amethyst.
 
Violet / Purple

Healing properties: These are colors of transformation. They heal melancholy, hysteria, delusions and alcohol addiction and bring spiritual insights and renewal. These colors slow down an over-active heart; stimulate the spleen and the white blood cells (immunity); bring sleep; soothe mental and emotional stress...

Leonardo da Vinci proclaimed that you can increase the power of meditation ten-fold by meditating under the gentle rays of Violet, as found in Church windows.

Esoteric/magickal: Elemental spirit. Divination and prophecy. Angels. Psychic abilities, divination, counter-acting negativity/black magick, reversing curses, psychic healing, psychic power, inspiration, meditation, spirituality, spiritual power, astral projection, third eye, compassion, counter-acting depression.
 
Preference for violet/purple: Colors for meditation, contemplation, mysticism, spirituality and religion power. A longing to ascend and dissolve polarities (purple consists of the active red and passive blue), to improve the world. Reservation, mystery and dignity. Soft, sensitive people with often paranormal abilities.
 
And when I looked up the color purple on Wikipedia I learned more interesting things...
 
Purple was one of the first colors used in prehistoric art. The artists of Pech Merle cave other Neolithic sites in France used sticks of manganese and hematite powder to draw and paint animals and the outlines of their own hands on the walls of their caves. These works have been dated to between 16,000 and 25,000 BC.[15]

Beginning in about 1500 BC, the citizens of Sidon and Tyre, the citizens of two cities on the coast of Ancient Phoenicia, (present day Lebanon), began to exploit a remarkable new source of purple; a sea snail called the spiny dye-murex. This deep, rich purple dye made from this snail became known as Tyrian purple, or imperial purple.[16]

Monday, August 5, 2013

What I Need... (BlogAlong day 5/30)

...is what I always need
 
Time. Time to breathe, time to create, time to be.
So I'm putting in requests for a little time off in September and October. I've accumulated almost 490 hours of Earned Leave (vacation and sick time combined), which tells me that I'm NOT taking enough time off from work. And you know what they say about all work and no play...
 
 
This journal page was created for the "Radical Wellness" class by Tam Laporte. It's the only art journaling assignment I found time to do in this class. I was able to play with my gelli plate for the first time, and I loved it! Thankfully, I've got the lessons downloaded so maybe I can get to them in the Fall.