NEW BEGINNING - AGAIN

Okay - today I turn 52 !!! I have once again decided to change direction! My family, friends and growing art experiences are my priority. When down in Key West, Sanford stated "Treat yourself with respect and importance - treat your art with respect and importance. Don't tolerate disrespectful behavior from others, move on". SO TODAY IS MY DAY TO DO JUST THAT !!! I am OFFICIALLY OUT OF THE CAR BUSINESS!!! I will have time to enjoy family, friends and art again. I have taken a position with RX Optical in Okemos. I will be working in a pleasant professional and positive environment! As I learn and have more to share I will do so. I am very anxious to get started. I will be working 40 hours - haven't done that in about 10 years! Mark is hoping that I get a handle on all my piles with this extra time on my hands. I hope I get my piles under control, have time to get back in shape and definitely have time to create!
This year I want to experience more times like:
All our kids and grandkids hanging out - water splashing, laughter, chalk drawings and lots of hugs - I did mention by the end of summer we will have seven - holy smokes!
this past fall when friends all got together with Chef Francesca and drank wine, laughed and hugged all while Francesca showed us how to put on a great Italian dinner - check her out: http://www.casadicesca.com/
More times like hanging out with friends on the deck with Mark at the grill and Sophie playing fetch.
More time to experience art classes and retreat trips like Key West!
Definitely want to train to run the 1/2 marathon in Key West again for January 2010 - wow that looks weird.
I hope I can fit it all in!
This is going to be a great year!
Dana

journaling 101

What an eye opener. I have several pages with watercolor washes - haven't had much time for cut and paste work soooooooooooo have really gotten into the doodle work and words! Scribbled, wiggly, large, small - letters - word triggers to go back to when more time. What I am so amazed at is how much that free's me up!!! I go to work without garbage on my brain - I look at the pages throughout my work day and get refreshed! I can't wait to work on them at home without interruption - my journey back into art has taken a huge turn with this experience!
Please check out the workshops offered at the Shabby Cottage!
Check out the two blogs I currently follow for more inspiration!

"INSPIRED !"
Dana

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