Works In Progress

Here are two pages I started in a journal. They are not finished. The raven one needs something...but I'm not sure what yet. The chair one I would like to add a quote of some kind. Maybe something about a favorite chair. Have a wonderful day! :)

Roundish Art

In my Mixed Media Madams group, we are doing a tip-in round robin. A few months back I had Megan and her theme was polka dots done on an 8" round surface. Well, after having done her pages and sent them, I started doing digital art. And so I explored doing some pages for her digitally and I really like these so much better! I think they are more her style and I KNOW they have one of her favorite artists on them - John Singer Sargent. This first page is the front. The second page is the back. Please do try to ignore the script coming out of the sides on the back page. It'll be cut out. I just cannot do a cut out with my current digital program (please, oh please Holiday fairy, bring me Photoshop!! Heh Heh!).

Now, after doing them, I started THINKING about them. Doom, doom, dooooom (scary music here!). And one thing I realized is that these girls/women sort of represent the three ages of woman. On the front page: The young girl has a budding flower and wings (no need to explain the symbolism, I think!). The woman seems to me to be an "older woman". The flower is in full bloom in her hair and attached to it is a little set of wings. These things are symbolic, to me, of a life fully lived and explored. Also that as an "older woman" (I'm including myself here, too, as I am now racing downhill!) the wings can come back to take us to magical places again - because we are not so worried about how others view us anymore! At least, that is the case with me!

The back page, well, she is the young woman who is living her life, finding her path. She thinks she knows everything about life (grasping the fully bloomed flower) - just look at that defiant stance and look on her face! And she "gets it" somewhat - the heart key tied to her wrist. But as she grows older and wiser, she will surely change; her strength will guide the way. The moment will come when she gives away the heart key to her beloved and the flower will be safely nestled in her hair because she has the confidence to let it out of her hands.

Too much, ya think?! Heh Heh! Maybe. But I find it fascinating, the symbols and meanings that come out in my work when I don't think about it. I honestly was just thinking of the composition of the pieces in this canvas. The thoughts, the meaning, came out after it was done. A sign I think, that my muse is starting to come back into my head. I hope! I've missed her very much...!

Just Stuff

A digital journal entry on my comment-less last post:


New Christmas pages for Martha's book:

My Own Words Fail Me

I wrote and rewrote my feelings about the latest two hate-filled murders in this country. But I realized that words can not adaquately express the deep sadness in my heart right now. So I'll leave you with these words:

"A child does not have to be taught how to be happy or the ways of love. It is fear, hatred & prejudice that have to be taught. And from the condition of the world we can see that unfortunatly there are some very good teachers."

Inspiration Touches My Soul

Today, for the first time in a very, very long time, I was inspired to make a piece of art "just because". Mostly I have been making art for swap commitments and those are always done to the recipients specs as to theme and size, etc. Which is fine - and fun! But the creative spark to "just make art" has not been living inside of me for a while. I have joked that my muse is off vacationing in a tropical paradise without me, but honestly, it has been a little distressing! The feelings are all so much more complex...but I'll just let those rattle around in my brain for a while and not bore you with the details.

This is the piece I created (with digital elements) after finishing a book tonight:

It is called "Forgotten Flight" and was inspired by the book "Off Season" by Anne Rivers Siddons. Oh, and my art piece? It "looks" nothing like the plot of the book at all! But it grew out a concept in the book that 11 year old Lilly believes: That all people used to be able to fly, but we have forgotten how. That is one of the things that really stayed with me through the book. Sort of magical, don't you think?! And perhaps...plausible?! Nothing is impossible, I believe! :)

As a side note, I really, really loved this book! It is set in coastal Maine and there is something so alluring to me about that part of the country. I've never actually been there, but I would really love to see it before I leave this life. Also, while many online reviews say that the ending is confusing and they didn't like that part of it, I thought it made perfect sense. It's just that you have to read into it a little deeper, I think. If you are looking for an easily paced and bittersweet story to read on a warm afternoon, you should give this one a try. It really shows how we all carry the "ghosts" of our past with us through our lives.

Sweet Kitties & A Link To A Giveaway

My sweet Gabby boy came home Saturday afternoon. Yay! He has been slowly coming back into himself, although he is VERY clingy! He has been following the hubby and I room to room and talking to us A LOT. I think he is trying to make sure we never send him away again by making sure we know he adores us! Heh Heh! It feels good to have him home. He is an important part of our lives around here and need him to stay for at least 10 more years! :)

There is a giveaway on DEENA'S BLOG. It is for this sweet print on a wood background:

Even if you are too late for the giveaway, I highly recommend having a look around her blog! Deena is an amazingly strong woman who is fighting breast cancer that spread to her brain. She is a true warrior and has a beautiful spirit!

Now, go have a beautiful week!

UPDATED: He's On The Mend!

UPDATE - FRIDAY NIGHT: Got to go visit with our little guy for an hour today! Which was good, because last night his fever spiked and had the vet - AND US! - worried. This morning though, no fever, but he still wouldn't eat (this is now 2 1/2 days without food). Well, we went to visit with him at 4:00 PM and after his initial freak-out, he calmed down, kept rubbing against us, jabbered up a storm and even played with the toy mouse we snuck in! We tried to get him to eat his regular food, but while he was interested (smelling it and answering emphatically to the question "when do you want to eat?" [Don't judge me for teaching them to talk people!!]), he kept meowing and walking away. We think maybe he associates that food with being sick now. So the nurse gal opened up a can from there and set it before him. He was more interested but still wouldn't eat it. Well...this lovely woman stuck her beautifully manicured fingers in that food and I'll be darned if Gabby didn't eat right from her hand!! Wahooooo!!! SO....if all goes well and he doesn't get sick tonight, he'll get to come home on Saturday afternoon with antibiotics!! I cannot tell you how happy I am that is he coming home!! My heart felt so much better after seeing him be active and almost back to normal. We almost lost Mr. Gabbs this week and that would have been so very sad!!!! He's such a cool cat and I know he has a lot of life left in him - many more mice to play with, manners to teach the new kittens and many more rides on our shoulders around the house! :) A nasty old virus is no match for that stuff! :)
Here's my Gabs as a baby! He loved sleeping either on the keyboard or on his brother Figaro! At almost 6 years old, they still sleep like that sometimes! Silly guys!

A classic "Gabby Pose" - stretched out at the end of the bed!
Not the best picture I know, but this is him answering my "Hey Gabbers!" He's a very vocal little guy! "What?!! Can't you see I'm trying to relax here?!"

Tonight the vet called at 5:30, after I had gotten the "all is ok" from them at 4:50. They said he spiked a fever all of a sudden. 104.1. 105 can be really, really dangerous for cats. So along with the i.v. fluids, they've got him on antibiotics tonight. Sigh.

I wish they could tell me what is wrong with my sweet Gabby! I love this little cat more than I can rightly explain! I believe - and always will - that my dad sent Gabby and his brother Figaro to me after he died! He always said that if reincarnation was real, he wanted to come back as one of his wifes cats (my step-mom, Linda). Well, the day after he died, a petite tabby cat (girl) showed up at his nursery. Of course, they instantly called Linda because they knew what dad had said! She showed up to see this little cat, which had been named Baby in the interim few hours. Well, when Linda walked into the nursery, I'll be darned if that little cat didn't RUN, seriously RUN up to her and beg to be picked up!! When Linda picked her up, Baby started nuzzling her neck! So Baby stayed at the nursery because, come on, who could say that this WASN'T MY DAD, or at least SENT by my dad?! Well, before they could get her fixed, she got pregnant. I knew, right away, that I was going to get one of these babies! When I went down there to see them, Baby, never having seen me before, came up to me and nearly DRAGGED me to see her babies! That's when I fell in love with Figaro, Gabby's brother! I knew I wanted him for sure. When I went to pick him up at 2 months old, Gabby, in all his adorable polydactyl-ly (extra toes!) cuteness just stole my heart right along with Figaro! And he didn't "shut up" the entire 3 hour ride home, heh heh, which is how he came to be cristened Gabriel - or Gabby for short!

I know the above story may sound strange, but I really feel that Figaro and Gabriel were sent to me by my dad! I'm not sure I would have made it past the heavy grieving without them to cuddle. They were - and are - my therapy! And after 6 years (on June 6th), I'm not nearly ready to give them up yet! So Pops, if you are listening, please help our sweet Gabby boy, ok?! I still need him around, to teach these two new kittens how to be cool cats! And everyone else, if you could send some positive energy his way, I would appreciate it! I know to many, Mr. Gabby is "just a cat". But to my hubby and I, he is one of our chidlren! Maybe even the favorite child! But don't tell the others that!! :)

Going to bed early now, so I can be ready to deal with whatever comes tomorrow. The last 2 days have been exhausting.