Share the Joy Thursday - Give it wings…

It is a snowy day today. Our first since October so no complaints here.

In fact, I am a little joyful about it, as I have no where I have to be,

and other than some house work,

nothing I have to do !

I am still trying to get back into the swing of working in my art journal more often.

I have to admit that while the paper in this meaty Moleskine Watercolor journal is delicious,

the size of it (81/2 X 11 or 8X1/2 X 22 full page spreads)

is a little intimidating, even to the fearless paint slapper in me !

I decided to do a few pages sliced up into sections…

three per page.

I also wanted to make use of some of the stamps I have been buying but never using…

Believe it or not, this funky winged pen stamp is from Michael’s $1.50 bin !

As is this gorgeous butterfly stamp.

I bought this Invoke Arts “Art Queen” stamp from the awesome Absolutely Everything store in Topsfield, Mass., way back when but it had never been used until today !

I like Stazon ink, since it doesn’t run with watercolors…

Rather than think too much, I just stamped them wherever, one in each section, as a jumping off place.

The pens and wings looked like a body to me.

I added a head, cut out from an old dictionary page.

I added some color with Twinking H2O’s.

While I was painting her, I was thinking about what kind of angel she was,

and what would she would be writing…

Love note…? Messages of kindness…?

I added in some printed words in little boxes with wings.

And then a little phrase to bring it together, written by hand with my dip pen.

Okay so she isn’t anything fancy or really profound,

but

I took the time to play and experiment.

And now, I am taking the time to share it.

That brings JOY to my artist heart !

As do these next sections in my journal, ready for me to play with when the time comes around again.

I hope you are finding many little things that bring you to a joyful place, Beautiful Ones.

Happy Thursday !

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Meri and the gang have more joy to share here.

Haiku My Heart Friday–The Red Tutu

Edited *** A few weeks back, my lovely friend Meri, shared a pic of herself with a beautiful red tutu that she had received from the amazing Deb at Talk at The Table  (not my friend amazing Deb Taylor at Deb Did It  as I originally posted  - Sorry to have gotten my Debs confused but thankful to have discovered Deb C. and her lovely inspiring blog through this !) to celebrate her birthday.

Meri did the sweet deed and then offered to pass the tutu on to someone who had a birthday later in the year.

Guess who jumped on the opportunity to share such a gift ?!

My birthday is on Sunday but I will be away in Canada with my family.

So today seemed like the perfect day top celebrate my Self !

Here I am in my Rock Fairy Uniform, featuring the beautiful, fluffy red tutu hand made by Deb !

David, my best cheerleader, but who I am sure thinks I am just a little nutso, helped me with the photo shoot ! (A little ?)

I even wrote a haiku in celebration of this sweet event :

The Red Tutu came

Full of love, laughter and fun.

My Self wore it well ! 

It was great fun to be silly, to not care about what anyone else thought and to just be me in all my Rock Fairy, Princess in a Tutu, 46 (almost) year old glory !

A funny thing happened too, as I was editing this crazy fun photos.

When I came to this photo, which I love, love, love…

I was instantly reminded of this photo I have blown up and sitting in my studio :

She is still in there, that 5 year old me. Shiny and bright, 41 years later.

Somewhere along the lines, she sure did learn the lesson well.

Use those wings, Beautiful Ones !

And a tutu too, if that works for you !

This is our one, precious life.

Let’s Live It Out LOUD !!!

Big Love !

 

Haiku Lovers, head over to recuerda mi corazon for more lovely word play.

Love has wings...

The brilliant Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon has offered a beautiful way

to give your heart and love wings to fly

all the way to our brothers and sisters suffering in Japan.

go check it out !

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Happy Sunday, beautiful Ones !

Wishcasting Wednesday

I wish to fly free from worry and fear…

they get me no where…

solve nothing…

are mostly in my head…

and prevent me from really flying free on the strength of my beautiful wings…

I wish to fly free…

 

(Head over to Jamie Ridler Studio for some more wishcasting and sweet support for your own wishes !)

Haiku My Heart - Flight

(art journal page from 2007)

Your wings just grew in.

Life has cleared you for take-off.

Fly, Gorgeous Girl, fly.

Jessie, High School Prom, June 2008

I don’t always gush about my niece Jessica on the blog, though I adore her, think she is brilliant and beautiful, funny and capable of anything she sets her mind to. Jessie is a private person and doesn’t really like me to put her photos out on the internet very much.

But I am making an exception today because I found out yesterday that my gorgeous 19 year old niece is striking out on an adventure. She has made the plan, arranged the details and even decided to leave a really nice guy behind because she knows it is her time to fly.

I am so proud of her I could burst.

And Jess’s courage and strength has inspired me to blow the dust off my own beautiful wings and spread them a bit wider, and maybe think about my own flight plan a little more…

Putting love and wind beneath your wings and praying for clear skies for your flight, My Beautiful Girl.

I love you.

(for more haiku my heart beauty go here. )

Abigail Knows !!!

So ENOUGH with feeling like a Gloomy Gus !!! Argh ! I hate that !

Can't stay there for long !!!

I know it is winter (the season of my discontent!) and

traumatic February on top of it ,

but really I have come so far from how winters usually are for me.

I need to allow myself to celebrate that a little !

Last Winter was soooooo rough - this one is a lot better.

The best one I have had in recent memory, actually.

So I am allowing myself to feel the ickies and be a little blue

for a bit because those feelings are real...

but at some point it is time to shake that off ! Or at least try !

So what to do to feel better ?

(art journal page - 2008)

Ah, yes...

Need to take a page out of Abigail's Book...

Time to put those wings in motion !

Fuel them up with art making, time with friends, walking, breathing, being grateful...

Start flapping

and before I know it, I should be using those wings to fly again...

So that's what my plan is for this weekend, Beautiful Ones.

Some sweet Wing TLC.

Dinner and a movie with Sonia tonight (Chick flicks RULE for the Blues!)

Shopping for some Mexico duds tomorrow (yes, I leave for Mexico in 11 sleeps ! what do I have to complain about ?!)

Some cozy time with my man in our sweet nest over the weekend.

A few walks with the Chica Dog in the warm winter weather we are blessed with right now.

And Art Journal Love Letters play time with Connie and the gang !

You bet I am grateful !!!!

Here's my song for today...love it so much !

"Take these broken wings and learn to fly..."

Do your wings need some TLC ?

Well, I am sending them the "L"...

I hope you give them the rest...

Big Love to you and your wings, Beautiful Ones and have a great weekend !

The Queen and Cosmo in the Aviary

Turn up the sound and have a little boogie to this one ! Chica and I just did and it was great !

Here's some shots David took of me and Cosmo in the Studio/Aviary yesterday.

No, the cat is not a big help !

But if I hold him just right, I can get a snuggly purr massage and still get the job done !

I don't look too miserable, do I ?

Happy Thursday, little birds ! Now, go use those wings !

Off I Go !

I am so ready. Bags are 95 % packed. My heart is 100% full. I feel like that little kid in the Disney World commercial saying "I'm too excited to sleep !!!"

I made myself an apron to mess up in the midst of all my crazy prep. yesterday. I couldn't use the beautiful one that Arlene made me last spring as it is just too beautiful, so I took an old jean apron I had from Ikea that I was using in the basement stained glass room and used a t-shirt transfer sheet and a piece of cotton muslin. I printed the piece above with my logo onto the t-shirt transfer (reversed the image so the writing looks right), ironed it onto the white cotton muslin, grunged it up a bit with some fabric paint and sewed it onto the jean apron with crazy stitches (easy for me who has a hard time sewing straight !). I didn't have time to photograph it but I will be sure to get a shot of me wearing it from Squam.

Okay, this is it. I am shutting down the computer. Carolyn will be here in about 2 hours. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee ! Just so excited !

Love you guys ! You are definitely the wind beneath my wings (too bad that song is so corny - the message is beautiful!). The Queen is air born...

Wings are feeling strong today...

One more sleep...

(if you can call lying awake and packing and planning in your head until 1:30 or so and then waking up around 6:00 raring to go sleeping ! :)) !!!

I feel like a kid before a big birthday party or even before Christimas !

I loved all your wishes for me in your comments on my last post. It really means so much to me. It has helped me make my wings strong and ready for this flight !

"You were only waiting for this moment to arrive..."

See you when I land, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Ones !

The Queen is taking wing...

So in three days, it will be Wednesday, September 16th, 2009. This is a very important day for me. It is the day I go to S.A.W. , the Squam Art Workshops in Holderness, NH.

I am so excited I could burst !

I am also a little nervous...

Okay , a lot nervous. But I know I will be fine.

I am so proud of myself for stepping way out of my comfort zone

and taking the chance for me to hang out for 4 days with

a whole bunch of art loving adventurers just like me.

I don't know anyone in person,

though I "know" quite a few people from Blogland who are going to the retreat.

But I do have a blogpal who I feel like I know

and who is going to be my roomie

and who has already been such a great support for my neuroses

as I get ready to go and worry about "highschoolish" stuff

like what to wear, how will I fit in, what to bring, who will I eat lunch with...etc...

My blogpal/brand new bff is Carolyn

and I can't wait to meet her in person on Wed. as we travel up to Squam Lake (about 1 1/2 hours from home !) together !

You know when you embark on something and you have a feeling that it is the beginning of something really important, something that will have an impact on your whole life ?

Well, that is how I feel today,

as I get stuff together and prepare to go on my adventure.

I know I am giving myself a gift that is for my artist self and for my soul at the same time.

And that feels really good,

kind of like spreading wings that I just realized I have.

It is going to be a pretty busy couple of days, as I scurry around getting everything together (trying to relax into that instead of being perfectionist Kim - she is such a pain !!!). I don't think I will have time to post between now and Wednesday. I have also decided not to bring my computer to Squam. I want to soak everything up, and fill myself and my spirit. I am bringing the camera though !!! And I just may take a video or two while I am there. I will take you all with me in my back pocket, and I promise to share my experiences when I get back.

I will see you then and say some prayers that I remember to use those wings !!! ;)

Happy Sunday, beautiful Ones.

Taking Wing

So the theme right now is taking a page from Abigail's book and doing my best to :

(Abigail's Album cover - Art Journal page 2007)

Take Wing.

Witnessing this :

(The return of the Snow Birds - photos taken at Canadian Border, March 20, 2009 - 1st day of Spring !)

Creating this :

Reading and wholeheartedly recommending this :

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

And this :

Creative Awakenings: Envisioning the Life of Your Dreams Through Art by Sheri Gaynor

Letting fly a wish to win this cool Allen Designs giveaway at michelle ma belle, a great new blog I have discovered thanks to my friend carolyn.

Doing all I can to shake of the dusty cloak of winter, and use my wings to fly in the Spring sunshine !

How are you using your wings ?