Visiting is good for what ails you

Just got back from a four day adventure after my sister called and said she was going to visit Rachel, so I hopped a plane and flew to San Jose, CA

Off we went to Watsonville for a little artists retreat, it is dangerous for artists to get together as the creative juices begin to flow, sleep is thrown out the window, as we throw caution to the wind and begin to bounce ideas off each other. First let me tell you about the two other people I was hanging out with: My sister Charlean who can come up with a million projects, comes prepared with as many ideas and brings enough books to keep you going for as long as you have energy to make something. She can analyze a photo of something and tell you how it was made or reach into her bag of tricks and give you a sample. Then there is Rachel who is one of this countries known quilters who makes fantastic wearable art which has been shown at the Bernina Fashion show, galleries and museums around the country. You can see her work at http://www.rdkc.com check out her coats and vests or get a pattern. Her workshops are worth every penny. We made fabric postcards using quilting techniques, kicked around ideas for jewelry using wool felt beads, I beaded a coat that Rachel was making then off we went to some fabric and bead stores, as though we needed another scrap of fabric, embellishment or bead. This woman has a stash that would make anyone envious with thousands of folds in every color or pattern imagined.

The photos are of my sister showing off one of Rachel's creations with a peek behind one door of every kind of fabric to stir you into a frenzy. The other photo is of course the front door to a quilter's house.

How refreshing to play with other creative folks, it is goooooood for the soul. Have you been with other creative people lately? If not, reconnect it is good for what ails you.

Next time I tell you about our trip to San Francisco to see the quilting ladies of Gee's Bend, AL

Pasadena Hugs and Caviar wishes

The frog princess

Ah, to be a princess even if you are a frog, which isn't half bad when creativity strikes. This is a page from an altered book round robin at cpsalteredbooks@yahoogroups that I'm in. There are seven of us each with a selected book that we are sending to each person to work in. After it makes the rounds to each person we will all end up with our books back in seven months, give or take a snafu or two. My sister and I will be going to visit Rachel Clark, a wearable art artist next week, for a little fun and artist retreat. Let's see what I come back with. We will also be going to see the Ladies of Gees Bend Art Quilt Exhibit in San Francisco. My frog princess' s body is an atc from one of their quilts which is fitting for this adventure. Check out Rachel's work at http://www.rdkc.com/ be sure to look at her coats which are marvelous

Memorial Day

Well, it's Memorial Day here in the USA, the last holiday in the summer. Fall will be upon us shortly with Thanksgiving and Christmas not far behind. Sometimes I just wish I could clone myself! How is a person supposed to keep up with all the things they have /want to do? I guess it is like eating pie, take it one bite at a time. We all have the same amount of time each week in which to get things done less 8 hrs a day for sleeping (so we are brite eyed and bushy tailed and ready for the day) that leaves 16 hrs to do the rest. Work? That still gives you 7 hrs (I'm allowing and hour for driving to and from work) Now what can I do with my 7 Monday thru Friday plus the the weekend. Boy I didn't realize I has so much time EXCEPT the fact that being a work-a-holic I go to work an hour early and stay and hr. later. Yikes that's two hours a day five days a week for ten hours that I could all my house work done without dipping into my allotment of weekly time. TV? I'm not even going to tell you how much time I waste watching mindless TV, I think it has become my baby sitter/entertainment/excuse not to.... well I'm going on a TV diet, cutting back not abstinence. Now that I feel all freed up with plenty of time I think I'll do a load of laundry, work on an altered book and watch Dr. Phil all at the same time. Now that is what I call multi tasking.

3 Garbos and their Dark Companion

Well, here is the first spread (back) for the "3 Garbos and their Dark Companion". The front is the original without the words. My inspiration was a painting in a Pier 1 catalog showing oak leaves strewn across a picture and they seemed to fall right out of the picture onto the frame. I started with 140 lb. watercolor paper which I painted with golden glazes then stippled through sequin waste with bronze ink. After that I made a second smaller interior canvas using glazes and chocolate pigment ink around the edges to give definition. After they were dry I stamped leaves using, acrylic paints, pigment inks and lumiere allowing the leaves to spill onto the frame. This reminds me that Fall is coming and the days will soon be cooling off - just can't wait for that, however the days will become shorter. Here is to Fall, good friends and maybe a glass of Merlot.