Busy days of summer

Where are those lazy days of summer?

You know...

When you lie in a hammock in the shade or bake in the sun.

When you sip lemonade in the porch swing.

When you sit in the shade and read a romance novel.

When you go shopping at the local green house.

When you plan and go on vacation.

When you go to the drive in and eat popcorn and watch a fun movie.

When you just slow down and watch the grass grow.

When you get caught in a summer shower and don't care that you just washed your hair.

When you stay up late and sleep late too.

When you just enjoy being..............

Where are those days?

How do you keep the idea in your head?

I always find wonderful thoughts when walking...sometimes poems, just phrases or images but I do get distressed when I forget them before I can get back to the computer or pen and paper to make note of them. Does this happen to anyone else or just me? Tell me how you remember.

I try repeating it over and over and visualizing it. Could it be I'm getting old or just too stretched with ideas to retain them?

Made this image in watercolor and scrap book paper for a friend's daughter who is having a baby. Used a clipart image and changed the colors to suit myself. Clip art is a great jump

start for art making.

Somerset Studio Gallery, Summer 2007 issue

Hooray! It was in the mail today!

My submission for the "ten" theme is included!

It's such a high and rush! I want to go clean a path and get to work in the studio on more!

Maybe I will after the house is quiet tonight.

baby greeting card

Made this card for my cousin who is having her 4th baby, a girl finally after 3 boys!

Idea came from Paper Creations magazine. Made my own baby feet charm with sculpey clay.

moved and settled?

Matthew has settled into his apartment in New Bern NC and will begin his work as education reporter on Tuesday for the Sun Journal newspaper.

He is both nervous and excitied as expected but will do fine. He is hard working, courageous and dedicated. He will do fantastic. I will too after I adjust to the fact that he may not live at home again. I know this is part of kid's growing up but it is difficult to let them go. I do have the good fortune to have his love and open invitation to visit often and I get to learn about a part of our home state I know little about. I do know it's the second oldest town in NC and had the first printing press in the state. It has an unusual population of black bears. New Bern is also the home of Pepsi Cola. It is a charming town especially in the historic district.

settled?

today's GIVEN BY GOD

With God in our heart

We are never apart.
For where we are He is;
We are always His.
Giving his support and love
And all good gifts from above;
Without Him I would surely fall
But can't since He is my All.
With Him I will always stay
Following him the rest of my days.
He gives me joy and peace
With which my worries release.
Filled with His spirit
Lifting my own spirit;
Fearing not the unknown
Rejoicing in Him, my safety zone.

more sculptures

The kids really enjoyed the class. It was frustrating trying to keep the pieces together while they painted them, but it was one of the more successful classes we have done.

Here is a smathering of their efforts. Enjoy! Try it yourself!

sculpture and atc

Even with the hustle bustle of moving my grown college graduated son to his new apartment and job I made this sculpture to use in a class demo and a new ATC.

The sculpture is made of paper tubes and a coffee can, glued with Aileene's tacky glue and painted in various acrylics.

The ATC is a magazine photo with a word from a magazine and the crown is made from half of the top of a Christmas ornament. Just remove the hanger, flatten and cut into 2 halves. Instant crowns. Great three d element.

New Circus ATC's

I finished these 6 ATC's yesterday in between, teaching, getting car maintenance done and taking care of household chores too.

The best thing about ATC's--

• portable


• good use for small windows of time


• keeping creativity pumped

Make ART

BE HAPPY!

New Chapters in Life

My son graduated with honors from Gardner Webb University on Saturday.

He has a wonderful new job in New Bern, NC at the Sun Journal. Transitions for us all but

he is an amazing, strong, christian young man and will be great wherever he is.

I too am strong and a christian and will survive this new chapter.

It's still difficult but life goes on!

Here is a digital collage I made of him!

endings and beginnings

Well, my son graduates college in three days. He has a job and we are going apartment looking on Monday. I am hoping I can stay calm and upbeat and IBS free for the transition.

I do well with constants and changes are difficult for me. With God I CAN make it!

Excited about some art projects but not ready to share so for now ....

Bliss

Bliss is simple joy and pleasure from everyday life and family. Living for love, experience, fellowship and happiness. Find it simply in seeing a flower's blossom or a son's smile, feeling a husband's hug, knowing a parent's health or a friend's laughter.

Once you really understand bliss you will find it everywhere you look, smell, taste, see, and listen. Wait, I hear it calling me now. Go find your bliss.

new collage

I finally broke the blue funk yesterday and worked on a green piece for an upcoming Somerset Studio submission. Here it is:

Green Geisha.

free images again

from Lisa Volrath at the following link:

http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/

Thanks Lisa!

TGIF? Menopause! and Middle Age Crazies

Here is my sweet Mom and son and me after my son received his journalism award from Gardner Webb University on Tuesday. I should be on cloud nine. I am but anxious too. I await Terry getting home from Montreal tomorrow after being gone for 2 weeks again. It's been the longest 2 weeks yet. I have my work done and should be relaxing and enjoying the day and anticipation but I still have this scratchy allergy throat, no energy cause I didn't sleep enough last night, and scattered thoughts.

I want to do art. I can't concentrate for the first time in a long time. I have 2 new art books, the new Somerset Studios and a couple other magazines but can't relax and read them. Is something wrong with me or am I just agonizing on the new changes in my life?

Matthew's graduation and moving away to work. Terry retiring soon. Possibility of building and moving. Is this normal or am I crazy?

As the song goes....maybe I'm crazy or just a little unwell...

Wisdom from Morrie

My son graduates in 1 week from college. He will start his new job in 3 weeks.

I am happy for him but it's change and adaptation, which I don't do well with.

I will be okay but it will take me some time. I don't go with the flow like my friend.

She complains when she's not happy with situations and lets all concerned know it.

I silently suffer and when it comes down to it, I survive.

I am prone to IBS. I've never blogged about it and would rather not but maybe someone else will be encouraged. I'll take my meds, eat little, and survive. I am a survivor.

One of my favorite movies and books is Tuesdays with Morrie. He really didn't let anything get him down. He enjoyed everyday and lived it fully till his last. I have no real problems but create them in my mind and let it spoil my day. I will deal with this. I will not let this take over my life.

I will not!

These are good times and I want to enjoy them and be happy.

The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.
Morrie Schwartz, Tuesdays With Morrie

The image is me having fun on the computer.

Art Sites and Family Blessings

My review of a favorite book is on the front page of the Artella Daily Muse today. You can see that much for free actually by going here: www.artelladailymuse.com.

Also the site I suggested is today's link latte: http://www.vintagepaintworks.com

Still floating on air that my son is such a wonderful young man with a wonderful future.

I thank God for His MANY blessings.

Here is a little digital collage of my son.

Proud Mama

My son has decided to accept a job at the New Bern Sun Journal as education reporter beginning in about 3 weeks. He also won an award at Gardner Webb University today in Journalism for excellence in broadcast and print journalism. He's also a really great son and guy. I call him my gentle giant at 6' 4".