Sun setting at Creekside - November 11

"Wanted" is the word I pointed at when I chose one of the books closest to me, opened the book and pointed at a word, as instructed for random word spark, be inspired to play, for Inspire me Thursday. At first I looked longingly at the words close by - seasons, color. Then I stopped to think about this word. How close could one be to the word wish? There are many things for which I wish. There must certainly be something artful I could create surrrounding the word "wanted". I had thoughts, ideas. My mind took me to a place in time to which I return, expecially when I allow myself the time. You see "I wanted", and I still want...

This is also the second last day for AEM. I may not get to posting any art tomorrow because I must prepare and travel for meetings in Regina on Friday. Starting tomorrow afternoon I will be away from computer for more than 48 hours. Hmmm. Might be tough. I'll try to post on Saturday if I am able to actually do any art tomorrow, November 30.

I was having difficulty with this art journal page. I ended up doing things over a few times. Consequently the words were done mainly with a cheap bic pen. I would probably go over them with a gel pen if I did not need any sleep this night.

The rider and horse are not that which I saw a few years ago. That rider was long and lithe, perhaps more so because her limbs seemed to flow, together with the horse. She rode bareback.

Some day...

Looking through the window
my eyes caught the sparkle
of a mystical, magical land

The horses ready to alight
on the minutest of sleighs
barely visible to mine orbs

"Wait for me"
I whispered
but the light
was changing

As I turned for my cape
snowflakes floated
no longer sparkled

Looking through the window…

This is a photograph I took this morning from our front window. I was thinking of this week's theme for artwords, which is window. After I put the photos to computer I started to play with this window. I had a grand time. I was transported...

One of today's contributions for Art Everyday Month, which is drawing near to an end.

For more on "Looking through the window..." go to windyangelsandyou.

AEM, November 27 - a journal page: I've not been able to do much art the last couple of days. That is frustrating for me. Creativity helps me to cope. Other necessities have been pushing their way to the front of my being.

I've been attempting transfers for some time. On Thursday I finally got some Golden soft gel medium. I decided it would be quick to try to do transfers tonight. It will still take some practice but at least I finally had some success. This was the third attempt tonight. I hadn't taken time to look for directions anywhere. I don't like the streaky lines but I don't care. With practice and some studying I think I might be able to have more success.

Someone questioned my actions, and beliefs, today. I am trying not to let it concern me but when there is such fear in me anyway, it is difficult. I will continue to trust. I will continue to pray. I will continue to ask for your prayers.

Wishing you magic in whatever form that takes - perhaps a stronger faith in God.

November 25, 2006, second post; AEM, Artwords: I was asked by a friend to do some Christmas cards. This is more challenging. I have to do something she'll like. A couple of the things she likes are birds and outdoors. She chose the papers. I didn't have any photos of winter birds. I decided to do this picture from some clipart I had. I did it my own way. Then I discovered that this week's theme for artwords is birds. I'm cutting it close. A new theme goes up tomorrow. I actually didn't have the correct link ever since I changed my blog template. When I redid that today I discovered "bird". So I was under the wire. The card actually isn't complete. I may change it totally after I check with Jen.

Anyway, I was quite scared about the drawing. It's not really something I do very often or very well. I was pleased though. Even if Jen doesn't care for it, the drawing was good practice. And once again I was reminded that though I couldn't find something I was looking for at the last minute - my good pencil crayons, sometimes it works out better. I used mostly the water soluble caran d'ache. YES, the blending was perfect.

I love birds. Chickadees are birds that I commonly see and hear. This winter I'll try to get photos. They are very tame. I've heard of people feeding them from hand. Beautiful chickadees.

"Believe and you may see miracles happening all about you." I want to say initially that our daughter, Cat, has been doing fine since she had the seizure last Sunday. I want to thank you for all of your prayers and also ask you to please keep praying. You'll learn why a bit later.

About "Believe..." - I want to talk about "seeing magic, creating magic and throwing lightening bolts". I posted that only a few hours after Cat had her seizure. For some reason it seemed to be the right thing to do. I realize now that I posted it more for me than for you. Today's story is for you as much as it is healing for me (as the tears are falling and probably will continue as I share this story).

Believing is probably the hugest part of being able to "throw lightening bolts"... (continued at windyangelsandyou)

Art Journal: I may want to do more work on this piece but it's getting too late tonight. On the bottom left corner I did some colours I wasn't happy with. Then I tried to cover it. Now it's not balanced. I need to add one other element. I think I know exactly what it needs. Maybe tomorrow.

I got a new large stamp today and figured out how to use it. That's something achieved. I think this is also the first time I've used a collage image from flickr. The photos are of my brother - little fellow beside the young lady with the crown, and some of my cousins.

The princess died when she was 13 or 14 years old of heart problems. She was about 3 years older than I. Her birthday was the day before my brother's.

Wishing you magic - either of your own creating or brought to you on a gentle breeze.

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends from the South:


" Let us pray to the One who holds us
in the hollow of His hands,
To the One who holds us in the curve of Her arms, and
To the One whose flesh is the flesh of hills and
hummingbirds and angleworms,
Whose skin is the color of an old Black woman and
a young white man; and the color of the leopard
and the grizzly bear and the green grass snake,
Whose hair is like the aurora borealis, rainbows,
nebulae, waterfalls, and a spider’s web,
Whose eyes sometime shine like the Evening Star,
and then like fireflies, and then again like an
open wound,
Whose touch is both the touch of life and the touch
of death,
And whose name is everyone’s, but mostly mine.
And what shall we pray?
Let us say, ‘thank you.’”

Max Coots
Minister Emeritus of the Canton, New York
Unitarian Universalist Church

Christmas pillow; trying to take one day at a time; trying to complete something instead of starting many more new projects.

I think all this little pillow (7 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches) needs is handstitching on bottom. I had been thinking of making it into a mini quilt with four knots but I got carried away with the stuffing and decided I liked it the way it was. The photo does not show detail very well. The purple fabric is some muslin I had dyed a couple of weeks ago at farm. There is some purple fiber sewn between silver thread and edge of blue. I like it.

Our godchild, TW, was here for a visit this afternoon. We always have such a hard time breaking our hugs, saying good-bye. We are very tight. I love her very much.

TW wants to get into art. I think she's impressed with what I showed her. She says I have done so much. HUMPH! If my accomplishments would be anywhere near my plans I would be happy.

About TW - she needs to find happiness. She saw it huge one summer and would so love to have returned. It never worked for her to return. I sense she is racing now, with life - won't go into details. I wish she would start an art journal. I showed her how to do the quick and easy backgrounds while she was talking a mile a minute and I was listening with heart wide open.

I hear TW questioning herself far too much and talking about maybe needing to change. Sigh. She'll sort it out just as she always has. I hope there won't be too many challenges along the way.

Till tomorrow - have a great day, hopefully with some magic.

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude
on life.

Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more
important than the past, than education, than money, than
circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what
other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It
will make or break a company ...a church ...a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday
regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We
cannot change our past ...we cannot change the fact that
people will act in a certain way.

We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do
is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ...I
am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me
and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you... we
are in charge of our attitudes."

Charles Swindoll

End of the day: At the end of the day

Our daughter, Cat, on watercolour - collaged, incomplete. This is the piece I had started on Saturday. I took a photograph and because it was leaning against a background I decided to digitally add black and charcoal around outside.

Yesterday Cat had a tiny seizure. She is fine. About 8 - 9 years ago she had been on medication for epilepsy. Then she had been seizure free and was able to go off the medication.

I believe this seizure was totally stress related. The transition to the huge high school has been very difficult. The program Cat had been in at the public school was very specialized for her. One could say she was spoiled. One said she deserves to be spoiled. I agree. At the high school they do not know how intricate her complexities are. They need to learn.

If you want to see the pictures of Cat in more detail, or more of them, go to either "Cat - now" or "our daughter - then".

Your prayers would be greatly appreciated at this time.

I love you Beautiful Angel.
Mommy

"And this is your assignment for today... look for the magic
everywhere you go (it's everywhere!)... make some magic (it's
fun!)... and for extra credit, throw a lightning bolt across the sky
(just because you can!)"

"Wishing you a BEAUTIFUL week!"

Ron Atchison
The Mayor of
Inspiration Peak

Prairie scene, November

Going bananas? Not much accomplished again. I guess I need some tickles today. Not certain how they'd go with my headache and jaw problems. Ah, I'll just think about tickles. There, that's better.

The pieces of fabric are only two of the fabulous pieces I got on Thursday at Haus of Stitches. I also showed the folks there some of what I've been doing. I've only ever had questions for them before. I've never actually shown them what I've done - because I've never actually had anything done before.

The other pieces are just beginnings. I don't have much energy and motivation to actually complete anything. The photo of our daughter (scan is not good) is printed onto a 7 1/2 x 11 piece of watercolour prepared with gesso. I then applied some acrylic paint. I was mostly thinking of "sometimes", the hurtful part when I did it. I need lighter colours on it. I'm not certain about how I'll put the poem on and what else I'll do with it yet. Her eyes may need some work with something. If you don't see anything about it in next few days you can know I wrecked it with experimentation. The others are art journal pages I've started and the cover. The piece that's pink in background is thin paper, not sure if I'll go anywhere with that. Till tomorrow...

"Calling All Angels" - We have just finished watching the movie "Pay it Forward". If you are faced with challenges, if you think the world is a hopeless place in which to live, if you believe in angels - you should probably view it.

Just a few hours ago I'd written "sometimes". After finishing "Pay it Forward", I saw today's thoughts, experiences, in even a different way. The word forgiveness had entered my thoughts but I hadn't included the word in this writing. I know it has much to do with what I wrote. I pray that I might be more able to forgive. I pray that my daughter continues to be so forgiving as what she seems to display.

"CALLING ALL ANGELS"

Light of the sun - November 17, 2006 - A day of many photos.

New light was supposed to be a photo with the moon. You can barely see it. I love the picture anyway. It's from our backyard. The streets were too icy to take much time to walk back to an open space.

I took many photos on way to Saskatoon and back. These are some of the images on way back from Saskatoon. I'll share more of the photos in upcoming days.

I'm chomping at the bit to get back to real art. This digital stuff seems more like pretend.

I spoke with my Dad. All went well. He was acting quite typically when I spoke with him. My brother told me the nurses in recovery wanted Dad to stay. He was handing out many compliments. Ah, my Dad - apparently being a "cheeky" old elephant.

Then
Chief of elephants.
Protector of All.
If he heard sign of danger
Far off,
Or near,
He would run,
Gather in all to safety,
Protection.

His own
He kept close by,
Especially Youngest.
She needed most protection.

He felt responsible
When danger came near
Or even touched,
Especially Youngest.

Perceived danger -
He was there,
Especially Youngest,
But all.

Wonderful Chief of Elephants.
I, Youngest,
Am so proud
To call you Dad.

March 23, 2004

This is about my Dad, then. He is now 83 years old. I wanted to share this today as he is having a minor surgery this afternoon. I love him very much.

I suppose I should mention that I hold grave concern about the elephants and their plight. When we were on safari in Africa I saw elephants as such a wonderful creation of God, even though they created some devastation of trees in areas where they moved. I love elephants very much.

AEM - November 16, 2006: Little time today or tomorrow. Main art I did today was buying lovely fabrics that were on sale for 1 day only, moonlight madness day in our small City - tradition. I'll show you some of them another day. I'm excited by them - lovely flannels and cottons, rich textures and patterns. Yumm.

This picture was just tossed together digitally. The photo was taken on weekend at farm. We have more snow than there.

See Binds of time at windyangelsandyou.

Have a great day and may you be blessed with much playtime and creative inspiration.

AEM - November 15, 2006: Day 2 on this blue piece. I'm not getting much art done these days and not quite certain how I'll proceed with this piece.

Baby Jesus - You may recognize one of the fabric pieces I'd shown the other day. The background was done with caran d'ache Neocolor ll (water soluble) and water brushed on. I drew in the picture with caran d'ache today. I'll need to soften the cradle yet a bit, no, not more straw, more shading. Again uncertain of how to finish - I might turn these both into little quilts. They are about 5 inches X 7 inches. Oh yes, do you think it would wreck it to use silver fiber on the rays of starlight?

Play time: Thinking on Christmas - I finally found some play time. Unfortunately the first one I did was just a practice piece. I guess my brain was not functioning on "think" but just "create". I forgot that if I put a damp press cloth on a piece of printed mulberry paper, whoops! It can work. I just have to remember to put it on the fabric instead of the image. A good lesson to learn.

I also played a bit with fabric pieces and stitching on that piece also. Maybe I can finish this one tomorrow.

My new mantra to self - play, play, play - play softly. Be gentle with yourself.

November 14, 2006

Please find "How many tears?" at windyangelsandyou.

Purple Sunrise: AEM - November 13, 2006: I actually did the background this past weekend, on cardstock with stamps and ink pads. The photo is printed on mulberry paper and then stitched on with metallic thread. I'll be doing more of these pieces but will practice tension next time and use some wonder under so as not to get the pillowy effect. Practice, practice.

Got a bit frustrated with transferring to blogger beta. Actually it was OK but a bit uncertain about comments. I had four junky comments all the same on Friday on windyangelsandyou so changed things. I have a feeling I may have messed things for people to comment now. Sigh. Hopefully I can figure it out tomorrow. Some patience together with practice.

I love that I now have labels. Anxious to see if it will connect to my other blog also.

AEM - Monday, November 12:

Candle Time
When the skies are gray...

A weekend with creative play time. These are only just beginnings, but I have plans.
Coloured and dyed fabrics -

Remembrance Day, November 11, 2006 - Part 2:
The picture below was taken at our cottage at Manitou Beach. I had never really paid attention before to the particular image. Our cottage has had some renovations but this one bedroom remained about the same. I love the old pictures glued on the walls and the natural wood.

This particular image struck me because of what looked like twin towers. The angel on top was significant to me. The people in their emotion and pain touched me also. The painting is actually of the Canadian Vimy Ridge war memorial.

My apologies for not recalling the name of the artist. I tried to research but without success. The clipping was from the Toronto sun.

"Lest we forget."

Remembrance Day - November 11, 2006

Angels and friends Part 2 - I'll try for the third or fourth time to try to complete this post. There are frequent interruptions and people looking for attention, one of them being my true love. He says he's trying to remind me to drop my shoulders. Maybe I'd best do that so he doesn't come running back.

The collage, which was very quickly tossed together shows only some of the items I received for my birthday. Nearly two weeks later and I'm still receiving gifts.

Last Sunday I received two wonderful gifts of money, one from Sig and one from my folks. I'm planning to buy a book about making cards. I'll try to remember to show you when I get it. I forgot to bring the name of it. I received a very beautiful card from my brother on the same day.

But angels keep stopping by and tapping me on the shoulder reminding me how many friends I have. Suze is one of those angels. She's brought me so many good wishes. Part of knowing these angels is that they feel comfortable about sharing their inmost thoughts with me. That makes me feel so blessed. I love being trusted. But I digress. More about those angels another time.

The collage:
The fabric on top left corner is part of a wonderful wall hanging I received from Laurentia. Beautiful Laurentia is from South Africa originally. She is so torn, so homesick. She wants to return to her home, even while she shares the horrific stories of what life was like, of what she hears life is still like, even after this many years. Laurentia, I think we will never understand, but thank you for sharing these bits and pieces. Thank you for shaing your heart with us. Thank you for the very beautiful painted wall hanging. I will cherish your art forever.

Nance, thanks for all the little treasures. This picture does not show all the collage bits and pieces she sent. I am saving the two most precious for another time. I will hope to use them soon. Thank you for recognizing how important words are to me.

The bookmark was not necessarily for my birthday but I see it as a very special gift also. It is from MaryAnn whose heart is so full of love. And it was chosen by Suze.

The book, Desiderata, is from my other writng friends - Hazel, Carol, and Jennie. They know me well. They are always so tender when I share some of my very personal writing.

Friends abound. Angels abound.
My love to all the angels in my life.

Angels~ Friends

To breathe - completed October 18, 2005. Find at windyangelsandyou.

The Caves - a story about Seasonal Affective Disorder and loneliness. If you or anyone that you know has Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) they might be interested in glancing at it. I have posted it at windyangelsandyou.

This story had been short listed for Transitions, a publication of the Saskatchewan Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Because of world wide submissions it was not chosen.

AEM day 9 & Fiber Christmas Cards: I've been getting into the Christmas spirit. Not hard when you see the weather we've been having.

I also understand there are people questioning why I joined a webring for fibre artists and have had nothing about fibre. Today was day. Not sure if I'll be able to continue on regular basis and may have to leave ring temporarily. For a start, I made these cards. I discovered wonder-under in process. My ironing board cover discovered wonder-under too. Where's that bottle of wine? I think I've had this cover for over 20 years so probably time to get a new one anyway. I always used to read instructions and instruction books before proceeding but... I accidently cut the pieces BEFORE applying the wonder-under. HELLOooo!

Anyway, I had a GREAT time doing the cards. Imperfect as usual. I think would have been pretty tough any other way. I'm not certain what to do with top inside of card where the stitching shows through. Suggestions? More wonder-under and fabric or just card stock or just leave as is?


About AEM - we're going to farm for a few days. I'm not certain what I'll be posting. I'll be creating as much as I can but not sure. Keep checking back. And hopefully I'll have a moment or two to check more of your work. HAPPY AEM. Love you all.

p.s.
Neither the scans nor photo show colours and texture very well. The outside fabric is jade green.

"I thank God": Until later I'll leave you with this ~

I thank God for most this

amazing

day; for the leaping greenly

spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky;

and for everything

which is natural, which is

infinite, which is yes.

e. e. cummings

AEM, Day 8: The theme for Artwords this week is "red". I needed to share many words for this theme. The words are actually excerpts from pieces written in the past but I have put them together in a new way with this collage.

RED ~ THE DANCE OF MY LIFE

Post 3: On windyangelsandyou I've placed a poem which speaks to the true love of my life .

AEM, Day 7, Part 2: Some may see this as a ransom note. Others will see it as a tender, wonderful truth. I see it as the latter. I am terribly spoiled and loved most preciously. He is a guy though. I can't ask for perfection.

And I must add that this goes both ways. Each must carry, sometimes one more than the other and then it will change.

True Love

AEM, Day 7, Part 1: She'd been knocking at my door, probably forever. By the time I got there she had often departed. It seemed so long since she'd last visited.

Original 11 X 17.

"If you don’t find God in the next person you meet, it is a
waste of time looking for him further.”

Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948

Ribbon for peace; grieving: I posted a poem called "feelings" yesterday and after it I said, "Sometimes it feels like I've been grieving forever. Sometimes it feels like I will never stop. Sometimes I feel I have not grieved enough. So much sadness in the world. Maybe someday I will write about this grief, maybe that will help me to get past."

Today I will tell you a little bit about some of the sadness. I do not think it will help me to get anywhere past it. As I 've been cleaning and sorting and organizing over the past months I have found some treasures. One of the treasures was this black ribbon. It was with a paper from 1996 - the ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Women's) Quadrennial Convention. The paper explains about women round the world wearing the ribbon "demanding a world without rape and violence".

Yesterday, some 10 years later, the ELW of our church presented the annual Praise Offering Service which happens in Lutheran churches cross Canada. The theme was sexual exploitation. We were made aware that there are stories in the Bible of exploitation of women. Some of these women were named. Others were not.

Sexual exploitation today - well I don't think I have to say very much. I think you are aware.

A few years ago I was reading a magazine article about a young lady who had health issues. She was very much having difficulties in the school system. She was very much an outgoing individual. She very much loved people. She liked to help people.

Her family tried to do the best they could for her but she kept falling between the cracks. They moved from place to place. She ended up, the family believed, in a particular part of Vancouver, a particular part where young ladies were disappearing, a particular part where little attention was paid that they were disappearing, a particular part where little attention was given by police if individuals, women, went missing. She was never seen again. Finally attention was given. Finally someone started to realize the numbers. Finally bones were found. They were found underground by a farm near Vancouver. (I may not have the details exact. It was too painful to pay attention myself when I knew there was little I could do, besides pray).

This story scared me to the core. It scared me because the young lady in the story sounded too much like someone I know.

Sexual exploitation of women, of children, of anyone, is abominable.

What can I do? I can pray and pray and pray somemore. I can try to make financial contributions to oraganizations that will help in whatever way possible. I could stand up politically - right now I guess that is what I am doing. I do not have strength to be any more political. I can ask you to help me with your prayers. I can ask you to help financially if you are able. If YOU have been exploited sexually - my heart bleeds for you. Know that I am praying for you. And I will pray some more.

Please find more poems - Better? and Why the children? at windyangelsandyou which speak politically about women and children. Some people may not like the exrta intent I have given in "the Cup" - my impressions, not trying to influence anyone. Perhaps the impressions go too far. I was angry when I wrote it and very, very sad.

"My path to Ubuntu" tells a little bit more about me and I suppose why I feel the need to help, to pray.

May peace be with you this day.

Too many words - not enough time - incomplete.
Tomorrow.

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own
house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband,
to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you
without leaving better or happier. Be the living expression
of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your
eyes, kindness in your smile; kindness in your warm
greeting.”

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, 1910 - 1997

No time for ART today, other than writing a piece about panic on other blog. That's not art. That's coping, sharing, spilling tears.

I tried to play a tiny bit with the art of organization. Bit by bit, piece by piece it will happen. Oh what art I will create then.

Have a great Sunday.

HUGS!

When the sun shines...

For entire poem see windyangelsandyou.

Heartstones - What do your eyes see? The theme this week for Studio Friday is from Nancy Bea: I AM INTERCONNECTED!

I'd been thinking of doing this heart with writing for a long time, probably since about last April when I'd gone for a walk in the Kingdom of Creekside and was looking for colour. Every time I looked down I seemed to see these small stones in a particular shape. I felt someone was trying to tell me something. I've finally put these piece together as it seems so appropriate for the theme of I am interconnected.

There are two groups of which I am a part. One is our writers group called www Ink (Wednesday Women Writers N.B. This is not a website) . Or there are other possibilities for what the www might stand for, which I'll leave to your imagination. This group has become very good friends over the past year and a half. we don't always talk about writing. We tend to inspire and develop heart strings.

The other group is my "blog sistas". You'll find comments from them on a regular basis. They are in my links. One day I must identify them more specifically there. Hugs to all of you. The collage - it's 11 X 15 inches. Its' about heartstones, love, friends but also much more. It's about the fact that we each see things differently. It's about the fact that we feel comfortable sharing what we see.

The written words in the heart:

"What do your eyes see? Do they see rough pebbles, stones, and gravel along life's roadway or can they spot hearts, heartstones and love? Do they see only pain, suffering and heartbreak or do they see opportunities - for comfort, for caring and love? What do your eyes see?"

This piece is not totally complete but I felt the need to share it now. I will complete it with some paint blotches and varnish as I get the urge.

What do your eyes see?