Meet Maso

Here is the latest of the poppets I have created. 

I learned the technique from Kecia Deveney and have fallen in love with allowing these new characters come into being.

This is my new friend with his face painted.

And here is the complete persona, Maso.

Maso is kind of a little demon. (See his horns?) 

He is that part of us that does naughty, slightly mean things every once in a while, but spends time regretting and feeling guilty about his actions later.

 You know, like when you take that parking place even though you see the other car coming because, hell, you're in a hurry too today! Or like when you don't tell your waitress that she forgot to charge you for your second drink. She was kind of slow after all.

Maso doesn't always do what's right. But like all of us on this chaotic, bittersweet, bumpy road we call life, 

he's trying hard to improve, and live the best little well lived life he can. 

Maso joined my other poppets on the shelf in the studio. 

I'm starting to imagine their adventures when the house is dark and I am sleeping  away in my night sweat drenched bed.

😉

Happy Thursday, Beautiful Ones! 

Haiku My Heart–Home Making…

 

 

Flotsam and jetsam

Of life gathered in altars

Saying I am here.

 

(Mini-zombie doll by artist Linda Willis)

 

(Painted rocks by the Rock Fairy)

(Star by me, Scarred heart by Alisa Burke)

 

(Mermaid from a Playa del Carmen souvenir shop, Henrietta bobbin doll by Sam Johnson, felted Rock Being by me)

 

(Stitched squares by me, yoyos by my grandmother)

 

Yesterday, while continuing the unpacking process, I finally reached the point where my real stuff, the stuff I love, that I have chosen, that I have gathered along the way,

was emerging from the piles of paper

and

finding new homes in my new home.

I recognized the feeling of placing my stuff just so,

creating little altars everywhere,

of marking the spot

with my very own hand, eye, and heart.

Made me feel like I am here now.

Made me feel at home.

Interesting to acknowledge, appreciate and in fact love,

the fact that

the creation of a home that reflects bits of who I am,

where I have come from,

what I love,

is

Art

from my Heart.

 

Happy Friday, Beautiful Ones!

 

for more beautiful hearts gathering in word and image, visit recuerda mi corazon .

Where you been, Queen of Arts ?

I am missing blogging.

But life has been keeping us busy around here.

Surviving winter…

Kind of fitting that I started the month and the year with a barefoot romp in the snow,

and that I just ended the month poking my toes outside this morning.

I was letting out the dog and felt the warmth of the sunshine on the back deck and had to step out

and play with my shadow for a minute.

Not ready for bare feet walking out there at all but the minute I spent out there reminded me that warmth and spring will get here eventually !

Little Jayden has been conducting our lives a little as we help out his mom where and when we can,

keeping our hearts all mushy and filled with baby love !

That, and some major house de-cluttering, as well as some big life changing decisions coming down the loop,

have kept me from getting to making much art these days either.

I am feeling the itch of that though, as I always do when I go too long without getting messy.

Making a promise to myself to get back to that asap.

 

I was thrilled to receive my contributor’s copy of this beautiful new book by Patti Digh,

the Geography of Loss in the mail yesterday.

 

I was so pleased with how my art work was featured on page 19,

with a perfect “Embrace what is:” inspiration.

It is so special to see your own art work in a published work of writing like this !

I so appreciate how Patti encourages and supports artist in such special ways.

Thanks for letting me be a part of it, Writer-Lady.

There is more in store for us as collaborators coming soon !

 

So yes, big changes look like they are on the way for David and me.

If things work out as we think they will, this will be the last winter we spend in the North East US for awhile…

More news when things come clear.

Happy Friday, beautiful Ones !

Big Love !

Haiku My Heart–Marks on the Map

Document your path.

Hills, valleys, monsters, angels.

Marks on your Heart’s map.

Tea stains, doodling and a little watercolor

have been brings more maps into my art work.

Makes a lot of sense as I try and find firmer footing on my path again.

Along with the comfort, clarity and freedom I get from creative time,

I am also so grateful for the good loving of dear peeps in my world.

They are what makes the path worth every bump.

 

Today, I am wearing purple in support of my friend, Melissa who is coping with one heck of an obstacle in her path. Melissa has lupus and bravely faces the physical, emotional and financial challenges of this horrible disease every day.

Today is Put on Purple for Lupus Awareness Day. To show your support, put on some purple and visit Lupus.org.

 

“We're all just walking each other home.” ― Ram Dass

 

For more Haiku Love, visit Rebecca and the gang at recuerda mi corazon

Share the Joy–Little things…

No matter how grumpy or blah I get,

there is always joy to be found.

Joy in the little things,

small graces,

in fact,

is

one of

my ways up and out.

This week’s joy list are all present moment beauties.

Things that made my heart feel glad, joyful just by stopping

and looking at them with my full attention.

Look around.

What’s bringing you joy right in this very moment…?

two sides of an egg shaped Rock Being…

my wares displayed on my altar…

spent bits from dyeing…

my daily sprig of lilac and its heavenly scent…

kitty cat stalking squirrel…

taking time to stop, breathe and see…

all joys to me…

 

For more joy sharing, visit the beautiful and talented Meri at Meri’s Musings

I miss the old Blogland…

New art – “Sunshine on a foggy day” – January 13, 2013

So I took a break from Facebook today.

I realized as I read through the posts that appeared on my page that many of them just weren’t doing it for me.

I was getting annoyed by some,

bored by some,

and one even made me angry.

Yes, there were a few lovely ones that made me smile or nod in agreement,

but for the most part,

the posts on Facebook today made me feel anything but joyful.

I spend a lot of time on Facebook everyday.

A lot.

I think I am looking for ways to feel connected to others, as I spend a lot of time alone.

But if I go to a pretty hollow place to find connection, doesn’t that mean that the connections I make are pretty hollow too ?

Well, it felt like that today.

So I stepped away.

I am not writing any lines in the sand or anything but I am taking today to try and find more meaningful connections…

My stepping away from Facebook made me think about my blog too.

I have gained so much from having this place to share bits of myself, my art and to give myself and others positive messages about life in general.

I love my blog and I am very proud of it.

And I love my Blogland friends so much !

I do miss the days when there was a lot more comments going back and forth or  the days when the comments were a lot richer.

Facebook has taken some of that away, I know. Instant gratification and in the moment stuff is pretty powerful.

All of that said, I will continue to write and share here, and visit my blog friends at their Blogland homes.

And as for Facebook, we shall see. But a scaling back is definitely in order !

Happy Monday, Beautiful Ones !

I hope you have an awesomely full week !

Inspired Flow…

No doubt about it.

I am inspired.

Creative juices are flowing.

I am loving it !

This is just some of the work I have produced in the past week.

The stitching took place at e.b.’s and started me off of a great flow…

And yesterday, I got the paint brush back in my hand and did these two pieces.

“The Edge” – 8X8'” canvas, acrylic paint

(I made use of a great new 6X5 stencil, “river rocks”, that I got from Stencil Girl Products, Mary Beth Shaw’s great company !)

“Their Depths” – 8X8” canvas, acrylic paint

I think it is pretty awesome how all of the pieces work together !

Both “The Edge” and “Their Depths” are now listed in the Etsy Shop, just in case you are as inspired by them as me !

I am hoping to add a few stitched cuffs there by next week as well.

Time to go back to work !

Isn’t awesome when work is play ?

Big love to you, Beautiful Ones !

 

****************

“Today, I remember to be grateful.” 

- Chopra Center 21 Day Meditation Challenge Centering Thought for the Day – Day 16

The Joys of a Staycation

From this week’s Joy List…

David and I were supposed to be on vacation at a camper in Maine this week.

But Issac’s leftovers and a forecast of rainy weather discouraged us.

We decided on a staycation instead.

It has ended up being a sweet mixture of stuff, including beginning some bathroom reno,

a beach outing on our sunny Monday, naps in the pm in the rain and things like :

Two kitty cats sleeping together on the daybed

(rare as the black one, Boo, is usually attacking the old softy, Azzy.)

Starting my artwork to be submitted for Patti Digh’s next book, the Geography of Loss that is being released in June 2013.

Making a bouquet of the last of my summer flowers

to put on the table on the back deck,

where we enjoyed a lovely evening with my Aunt Lise and Uncle Charlie from Montreal, who made a stop here on their way to the seacoast. It was a treat to have them here !

There was tender moments like keeping the love light burning as John Ptak, Patti Digh’s husband, underwent his kidney surgery. Being a part of the unbelievably loving community, sending healing and prayers to the whole Ptak-Digh family was a joy and an honor for me.

This photo I took from Patti’s facebook page shows her and John after he made it through the surgery really well and was recovering, still feeling the waves of love…

Then there was the arrival of Little Happy.

I saw him a while back at Pier One Imports and have been stopping at the store every two weeks or so to see if he would be on sale.

I have been looking for a Buddha figurine that could go in my garden or in my studio and when I saw this guy, I was completely in love. He is just the right mixture of happy and serene that touches me.

I told my honey, David about him, and how he had made me smile when I saw him.

I also said I didn’t feel right buying him as he was kind of expensive and I have a lot of expenses coming up this fall with workshops and art materials I need to buy.

Then yesterday, when David went out to Home Depot to get some stuff for the bathroom reno,

he walked back into the house carrying my little monk !!!!

I was so surprised and tickled !!!

Isn’t he the cutest ?

And the little Monk rocks too !

I will be rearranging the bay window in my studio to find the perfect place where I can look at Little Happy and smile everyday.

Isn’t it cute how we both have a dimple in the exact same place !

I hope that your week was full of joyful moments, Beautiful Ones !

 

For more joyous stories, head over to Meri’s Musings today and every Thursday.