joyouslybecoming:

gathering loose ends

outside influences

when i was a girl

I'm completing as many of my in-progress projects as i can for vending at Artfest. No chance I'll get anywhere near done with them all but I hope to finish at least a couple more tomorrow. These are a couple I worked on today.

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almost artfest

And I've been busy preparing for teaching, vending and taking classes. I'm doing less online, it's hard for me to make the shifts of online/offline right now, so I'm going with my offline flow. I wanted to share a few of the things I've been working on with you though so you don't totally forget me...

mixed media painting on fabric

partial view of encaustic mixed media painting

encaustic cardboard journal- front cover

encaustic cardboard journal- back cover

inerior spread

Okay, that's all for now, but I'll check in again before I go - i hope you all have a wonderful weekend - thanks for stopping by!

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When I woke up this morning, still bleary-eyed, in my robe, lst cup of coffee in hand, my husband played me this new youtube video - he knew I'd be delighted as it's what I've been saying for weeks now...

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Disintegration and Happy St. Paddy's Day

I had to run like heck to catch the train but I made it, and have joined the disintegration project , inspired by Seth of The Altered Page. I hung my little bundle out on an old garden fence that will be torn down and replaced this spring, in the meantime they are disintegrating together, bits of the rusted chicken wire curled and tied around and into the paper bundle. i also layered some dryer lint in there...

Remembering my Irish ancestors today - that would my paternal grandparents, and my dad's Catholic side of the family. I love the dark curly hair and hazel eyes, the opposite of my maternal grandparents side who were full-fledged Norwegion - fair skinned, blue eyes, light hair, and of course Lutheran. I have always felt the deepest kinship with my Irish side - so I lift my glass to them and you - cheers !!

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checking in and catching up

some of the fun things in the past several days...

driving the kids to olympia (1.5 hours from home) so they could play in the wonderful children's museum there. it's a place where you can plant and harvest vegetables all year long...

violet always had at least 2 baskets of food going when picking apples or shopping in the market.

the bakery was popular with LilyAnne

these two rollie-pollies were tumbling about on the dentist chair waiting to get their teeth clean

look at those choppers up close will you - real dentures here!

the hygienists carried out their job with gusto

a place to sail boats, build locks, catch fish, or just splash

the veterinary clinic is always popular with violet. if it weren't such a long trip i'd take them back more often.

We've had some interesting weather, sunny and quite cold. We had a hailstorm a couple days ago.

The dogs and I were taking a walk when it started, the clouds coming our way were black so i knew we were in for more. we headed for the river where there are lots of big trees for cover.

I've been home most of the time, especially enjoying this music, this, and this often working on preparations for my class at artfest coming up in just a few short weeks and there are still a few openings if you're looking for a fun class. but also some (too-much) goofing off and wasting time getting sidetracked. today i've got my to-do list in front of me and i'm riding my behind to stay on track. Here are some photos of the newest sample - these are SO much fun to create. You can either hang them on the wall or suspend them from the ceiling like a mobile. Because the individual units are on swivels, everything turns around.

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I'm dreaming of... cobblestone streets, cathedrals, frescoes, slow-food and good wine

Dreaming of Orvieto, Italy, where I willl be teaching my workshop in mid September of this year. If Italy is one of the places you've wanted to go, or go back to, and if spending time creating art with new friends, in addition to seeing the sights of Orvieto with seasoned guides, Bill and Kristi Steiner, who will make this trip a once in a lifetime memory - then this may be the trip for you!

We will divide our leisurely days creating artwork in our visual journals, eating local slow-food, sipping luscious wine, and visiting with fellow classmates, as well as taking excursions in the area, seeing the sights, breathing the smells, taking in the sounds and ambiance that is Orvieto, that is Italy.

If you have held a dream, like me, to go to Italy, to have your every traveling need attended to, to be pampered as well as creative, this may be just the trip for you. What do you think - join me?

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Let the bidding begin...

Today bidding opens for the vast array of beautiful and unique shrines made and donated by dozens of artists scattered around the country. The project was birthed and nurtured by artist Rebecca Brooks to raise money for the street children of Oaxaca. I spent an hour last night going through the gallery of shrines and I was moved by the beauty and soulfulness of the shrines on display. I hope you'll make yourself a cup of tea, sit down, and stroll through the online gallery of shrines, you're in for a treat. This link will take you to the gallery of hope, an online auction...

I forgot to share with you all here the photo of the shrine I created for the project - it is in memory of my mother, Viola.