A NEW YEAR...A NEW ADVENTURE...

"Don't think about what can happen in a month.  Don't think about what can happen in a year, just focus on the 24 hours in front of you and do what you can to get closer to where you want to be."         ~Eric Thomas~

A few weeks ago I almost went into a meltdown over my birthday this year, wondering, what now?  At first blush the thought of turning 70 made me feel really old and I couldn't figure out why...I don't feel any different than last year. 

After thinking about it for awhile I realized it was just the number I had been conditioned to believe is the beginning of the end and now that I have turned 70 I should spend my days in a rocking chair and 'act my age'.   

News flash... "Don't just do something, sit there"...has never suited me.

I know although I have slowed down and the years have taken their toll I have a lot of years left, if my family history is any indication.  I also know I still have many things left I want to do with my life. 

But age has also taught me that there are no guarantees...so this year I intend to begin the practice of MINDFULNESS...to stop worrying about the future and just enjoy each day...to be here...to be now...to be enough.  

AT THE END OF THE DAY... I know it probably won't be that easy but I'll learn...that's why they call it 'practice' isn't it? 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

I remember when getting ready for Christmas was a month long stressful exercise in decorating, shopping, cooking and baking.   Wrapping gifts was an all night affair on Christmas eve along with putting together countless 'Santa' gifts...hoping all the parts were there...to put under the tree unwrapped...and of course the hangover Christmas morning from not enough sleep and too much 'eggnog' while trying to meet Santa's deadline.

These days someone else does most of the baking, there are fewer gifts to wrap and the Santa gifts are someone else's responsibility...and we gave up hangovers years ago...so I'm finished much sooner now and I can spend the days before and during Christmas with less stress.  

This year the last Christmas tradition is being passed on.  We change and grow...and now that I have grown older I know it's time to pass the rest of the responsibilities on to someone else.  This year I can spend Christmas eve with the family having a nice dinner I don't have to cook and watching "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" the cartoon version (another tradition) at my granddaughter's house.  I am happy to pass this last tradition on because...   

AT THE END OF THE DAY...I can just sit back and enjoy...and of course take lots of pictures...because some things never change...

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

My Christmas shopping is finished, except for those last minute impulse buys, of course.

When my children were small I loved to Christmas shop.  Now not so much.  The shopping season didn't start till the day after thanksgiving so it really was something to look forward to every year.

People didn't push and shove and clerks were polite and helpful...all gone.

Now I do as much of my shopping as possible local, the rest i do on line.  Easier on the mind and body.

If you're not finished yet and don't want to fight the crowds let me invite you to shop for that special gift someplace friendly and fun...my studio...

AT THE END OF THE DAY...it's the perfect solution...

THESE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR HOMES

A few more 'People In My Head'.  Again 5x7 matted to 8x10 ready for framing, $12.50 ea.

City Slicker

Celebrate

Pretty Miss Kitty

Cloud Walker

Hey Diddle Diddle

AT THE END OF THE DAY...you know one of these is perfect for someone on your Christmas list. 

JUST FOR FUN

Playing With Fire

These collages are from a series I call...

"People In My Head"

The prints are 5x7 matted to 8x10 for framing...$12.50 ea.

Brighid

 

 

Siren Song

Balance

Leaf Spirit

Cattitude

 

 

  

If you don't see one for that 'special' person stay tuned...

AT THE END OF THE DAY...my head's a busy place.

 

SEND SOME LOVE

$12 per bag

I love to sending and receiving Christmas cards.  I know I am one of fewer and fewer as the years go by but there is still something special about getting a card that someone picked out just for you. 

I have handmade cards packaged in translucent cloth bags 4 to a bag. 

Each card in the bag is the same.

 

AT THE END OF THE DAY... Just add a short note and send some love to someone special.

 

BUDDY CAN YOU SPARE ME A DIME

4X3 notebooks $3 ea or 2 $5

When I built my studio one of the ideas in the back of my head was to have a place where I could share time and space with other people who like to do art and a place for open studio days throughout  the year to show (and hopefully sell) my art. 

The older I get the harder it gets to do art shows, especially outdoor shows. 

I am working on signage for the end of the driveway and display space in the studio and working out times and marketing (my least favorite part) and hoped to have it all worked out by this month but it looks like it won't be ready till sometime early next year. 

In the meantime Christmas is just around the corner and there is nothing like 'doing' as a way to learn so instead of procrastinating till things are 'perfect' I am posting a few things I hope you think will make nice gifts and/or stocking stuffers.  I will add more, a few each day, for several days so keep watching and if anyone is interested in anything they see or has any questions just send me a message.    

AT THE END OF THE DAY...the secret of getting ahead is getting started...

2x3 leather button books $4 ea

IT'S HEEERRRE...

November has finally arrived.

The last few weeks have been a trial but life is leveling out again and with my happy light and upped dosage of vitamin D even daylight savings time doesn't seem so bad. 

My studio is cozy and warm and full of new ideas to be explored.  

For our next budding artist

I am well on my way to finishing my 'handmade' Christmas gifts, (don't tell Ady) the finishing touches are being put on our latest remodeling project, and the holiday season is getting underway. 

In October I took a series of printmaking classes and I'm thinking next year I'd like to expand on what I learned.  Here are some samples of my first tries...

Dry Point

Chine Colle

Three Color Mono Print

The combinations that can be done with these three techniques is amazing...and if I scan then into my computer...well...my head wants to explode every time I think about it.

AT THE END OF THE DAY...I think maybe winter won't be too bad this year.

SEEING RED

A teaser...red skys in the morning.    

Can only hope the clouds really mean rain in the near future...

and cooler weather...after all, it is the middle of October.

Even with a series of printing classes...I'll post pictures another day...and the first winter colds making their appearance I have finally been making progress in the studio.  

Still have a ways to go with Christmas gifts but I'm getting there.

With all the road blocks and delays...

AT THE END OF THE DAY...it's a good thing I started really early this year.

I TRY...HONEST...

As the days fly by one by one and the list of projects not finished gets longer and longer I think about how life is getting more complicated.

Purchases that used to involve a simple trip to the store can take hours of searching the internet, days (or weeks) of waiting, and much to much time on the phone trying to find out why it hasn't been delivered yet.

A request or information that used to get answered by a simple phone call can takes days, even weeks, because cell phones and email are so much more easily overlooked or ignored because of shear volume.   

And how does a person plan anything when to get something serviced or repaired now consists of first come first serve then waiting for hours instead of getting an appointment and a ballpark timetable so you could plan the rest of your day around it. 

When did paying for shoddy goods, getting shoddy service and being treated rudely become so common place and acceptable and how did we allow it to happen.

grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

to change the things I can

and the wisdom to realize

that counting my blessings instead of complaining and worrying

is the only way to get out of this life without going insane

AT THE END OF THE DAY...thank you for letting me vent...now back to your regularity scheduled day.

TRAFFIC JAM

Unfinished

I remember a painting class where I learned that most paintings reached a messy "what do I do now" stage that may need to be laid aside for awhile while I work on something else.

Other projects work much the same way but instead of a messy stage it's a road block' stage...waiting for paint to dry so I can sand...figuring out a process I'm not familiar with...waiting for someone to find a tool I need then getting it to me...etc, etc, etc.

This is why (other than the attention span of a gnat) I have so many projects started at the same time. 

Usually all these roadblocks come along one at a time and I always have something else to work on but this past week I hit a virtual traffic jam of them and all I can do is inch along bit by bit waiting for the traffic jam to end and the roadblocks to fall knowing the endless list of projects will be started and finished in their own time.

Fledgling

 

 

 

Autumn Graffiti

Disquieting

 

 

So what do I do in the meanwhile?  Anything I want...after all...

AT THE END OF THE DAY...I'm retired.

ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS

It's mid August.  The leaves are already starting to show signs of fall and soon school will be gearing up for another year.

The puppies got groomed with a short haircut to get them through the rest of the summer.

 

We have had more hot weather than usual this year...more than I like... but it is getting cooler at night and early in the day and we have gotten a sprinkle of rain now and then to cool things off.

A lot has gotten accomplished during the nice weather.  The ramp is finished and now the rails are going up.  The small bathroom and laundry room have been remodeled with just a few finishing touches left.  They came yesterday to measure for new kitchen counter tops.  After over 20 years I thought it was time for a change

 

and I cleaned and reorganized the studio in anticipation of starting Christmas gifts.  I know it's early but I am planning on making quite a few this year and thought I better get a head start.

The best part of this end of summer...my granddaughter who has been gone for 15 months...is coming home today...to stay.  No more Navy life for her.  She will soon be back to making waves in our lives as only she can make them.

AT THE END OF THE DAY...we've missed you...have a good flight...welcome home.