changes

Well, I announced that grandbaby number six is on the way and have since found out that grandbaby number seven is also on the way. Alex and Becky will be having their third child in August. Ben and Chelsea will be having their second child end of September. Wow. I pray for happy healthy children!
love, me

Book/journal binding

Here it is - Joy's journal.

Joyful Designs represents her traditional / business side that she shows to the world.

Sinderella's Sister is her true self that she only gives glimpses of to others.

So, depending on how she feels on any particular day she can open up from that side and... sketch, plan, write and create!!!

I have never done book binding - this was a great experience.

Dana

creating from within

Well I finally got online to participate in the art journaling 101. I am really excited and have only been able to do a small amount of work but am so encouraged. This is a way to keep art flowing from within even though there is not alot of time. My journal is out and I can spend 3 minutes adding to it here and there -or- should I get the opportunity to work in my artroom, I can really add to the pages as I work on other projects. The journaling is different from what I would normally be doing so learning the techniques of others really expands my vision and thinking.
I am also completing a project for a gift for my friend Joy. It is a Christmas gift so obviously it is late. I am making her a journal, if you remember I have discussed that she too is an artist, a quilting artist. She keeps a design book and this will be another avenue for her to record her visions. I believe she as a dual personality. One of the traditional quilter and the other that flows from deep within creating outstanding works of art. I have painted two covers for this journal. On the days that she feels traditional she can open the book from that cover - the days that she feels she must be outside of the box, she can open from that side of the cover. Today my mission is to bind the book and finish off the cover. I will post pictures.
I really feel that my art world is opening up in a big way and this is the year that I will be comfortable stating that I am an artist!!!
Thank you to all that have shared in my vision.
Dana

Computer challenged!!!

Well - as part of my commitment to myself and my art for 2009 I signed up for an online course - Journaling 101 with Pam Carriker. Challenged is a polite way of saying, "I don't have a clue as to how to manivure through the internet!!!" So, now I have paid to learn and can't access anything. I WILL FIGURE THIS OUT!!!!

Children and Christmas

Well with 5 grandkids and a sixth on the way - this is an exciting time of year. Two of my grandkids had birthdays on the 15th; Jackson turned the big 5 and Cameron turned 3!!! Today the 23rd is also Vicki's birthday, Mark's step mom who passed away this March, we will be having our annual toast of Kahlua for her this evening! It's funny how much you miss people that made you crazy when they were here. Then my oldest son, Alex, turned 26 on the 20th - he thinks he is sooooooooooo old. I actually got to spend his birthday with him this year and just loved our time. His birth was quite an event so I wrote him the following poem for his special day:

HAPPY 26TH BIRTHDAY ALEX !!!
T’was the night before ALEX and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.
I sat at the table, phone in my hand;
crying to Grandma, “When will this baby land?”
Your Dad was out having beers with the boys,
he stumbled in late and had his football toys.
I was still sitting a tearful wreck,
yelling and screaming, “What the heck?”
His head hit the pillow, I watched the clock tick.
Til my belly started stretching and you gave me a kick!
Up the stairs yelling, “It’s time to go!”
Your Dad still tipsy moved ever so slow.
Stop just a minute he needed to shower,
I sat on the sofa, “Come on it’s the hour!!!”
We raced through the snow to our hospital room,
and now the pain started, I asked, “How long will this loom?”
Sixteen hours later your cute head popped out,
with tears in our eyes we gave a joyful shout!
My how you’ve grown,
THE ADVENTURES YOU’VE SEEN.
Twenty six years later you still make me beam!!!
Love, mom

Art on the Streets

My Key West Trip. . .
November 1st landed in Ft. Lauderdale - sunny and balmy warm! I spent a fun afternoon with my brother who lives there and got on the road to Key West early Sunday morning. Arriving on the island early afternoon - got to my bed and breakfast ( The Popular House - OMG - they were great!) and settled in. 6 pm was the time to meet my instructor, Sandford Birdsey, and the other students. It was a small gather of ten students, some spouses and local artists! Sandford greeted us all and gave us an overview of the week ahead. We all shared some great wine and food to get ready. The next five days we met at 9 a.m. to go to a corner on Key West and paint a location of Sandford’s choice. We were all over the sidewalks, painting, listening, critiquing - it was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot, met some great people that I will stay in contact with hopefully for many years!
My wish for all of you, my customers & friends. . . that you take time out and find the time to pursue a passion. That you will be selfish and take a trip that is just for you and enjoy it without guilt! Wow, it is amazing!
The two quotes I will take with me daily :
“If you make a mistake, make a big one so everyone thinks you did it on purpose!” And, “Treat yourself with respect and importance, treat your art with respect and importance! Make time for both yourself and your art!”
Sandford Birdsey - she is a recognized Watercolorist and a remarkable woman - check her out at:
http://www.signofsandford.com/

The picture up top is my painting of Blue Heaven restaurant in Bahama Village. The other is of Sandford, me, my new friends from Quebec City - Claudette and Louis! This was at our end of week gallery showing at Simonton Court - beautiful.

Dana

BREAK THRU

Well - day 3 in Key West painting with Sandford Birdsley and nine other students. Today was awesome - my painting still needs alot of work but I can see so much progress - AMAZING. The jitters are gone - I am with a great bunch of women - no, no artist! Today was FUN.

We painted Blue Heaven - and I can even tell that is what I painted.

Biked to the beach = took a cat nap! What could be more perfect - well Mark being here would make it perfect!
Dana